Anti-sweep bar

Abstract

An anti-sweep bar for mounting relative to a shelf fixture includes a pair of brackets configured to attach to the shelf fixture and a corresponding pair of side bars, each side bar connected to each bracket and extending outwardly from the shelf fixture. A crossbar extends between the pair of side bars and is configured to block at least a portion of a shelf on the shelf fixture in a closed position and further configured to move into an open position permitting unblocked access to the shelf.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An anti-sweep bar for mounting relative to a shelf fixture, the anti-sweep bar comprising:
 a pair of brackets configured to attach to the shelf fixture;   a corresponding pair of side bars, each side bar connected to each bracket and extending outwardly from the shelf fixture; and   a crossbar extending between the pair of side bars, the crossbar configured to block at least a portion of a shelf on the shelf fixture in a closed position and further configured to move into an open position permitting free access to the shelf.   
     
     
         2 . The anti-sweep bar of  claim 1  wherein the crossbar is extendable from the pair of side bars. 
     
     
         3 . The anti-sweep bar of  claim 1  wherein the crossbar pivots into the open position. 
     
     
         4 . The anti-sweep bar of  claim 1  wherein the side bars are each extendable to expose hinges, wherein the crossbar pivots around the hinges. 
     
     
         5 . The anti-sweep bar of  claim 1  wherein the side bars pivot relative the pair of brackets. 
     
     
         6 . The anti-sweep bar of  claim 1  wherein the side bars pivot around shoulder bolts positioned in the brackets. 
     
     
         7 . The anti-sweep bar of  claim 1  wherein the crossbar slides into the open position. 
     
     
         8 . The anti-sweep bar of  claim 7  wherein the crossbar slides downwardly into the open position. 
     
     
         9 . The anti-sweep bar of  claim 1  further comprising a lock to fix the crossbar into the closed position or the open position. 
     
     
         10 . The anti-sweep bar of  claim 9  wherein the lock comprises a locking aperture positioned in the bracket and a channel in the side bar. 
     
     
         11 . The anti-sweep bar of  claim 1  wherein in the closed position, the shelf is partially accessible and in the open position, the shelf is fully accessible. 
     
     
         12 . The anti-sweep bar of  claim 1  further comprising an aperture in each bracket aligned with a channel in each side bar in at least one of the open position and the closed position. 
     
     
         13 . An anti-sweep bar for mounting relative to a shelf fixture, the anti-sweep bar comprising:
 a pair of brackets configured to attach to the shelf fixture;   a corresponding pair of side bars, each side bar connected to each bracket and extending outwardly from the shelf fixture; and   a crossbar extending between the pair of side bars, the crossbar configured to block at least a portion of a shelf on the shelf fixture in a closed position and further configured to pivot between the closed position and an open position permitting free access to the shelf.   
     
     
         14 . The anti-sweep bar of  claim 13  wherein the crossbar pivots into the closed position. 
     
     
         15 . The anti-sweep bar of  claim 13  wherein the side bars pivot relative the pair of brackets. 
     
     
         16 . The anti-sweep bar of  claim 13  wherein the side bars pivot around shoulder bolts positioned in the brackets. 
     
     
         17 . The anti-sweep bar of  claim 13  wherein the side bars are each extendable to expose hinges, wherein the crossbar pivots around the hinges. 
     
     
         18 . A method of protecting a store shelf from a sweep of products from the shelf, the method comprising:
 mounting an anti-sweep bar relative to a shelf fixture with a pair of brackets configured to attach to the shelf fixture;   connecting a corresponding pair of side bars to each bracket that extend outwardly from the shelf fixture;   extending a crossbar between the pair of side bars to block at least a portion of a shelf on the shelf fixture in a closed position; and   moving the crossbar from the closed position to an open position permitting free access to the shelf.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the crossbar is pivoted to move between the closed position and the open position. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the crossbar slides to move between the closed position and the open position.