GB2559385A - Merchandising display element - Google Patents

Merchandising display element Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2559385A
GB2559385A GB1701822.7A GB201701822A GB2559385A GB 2559385 A GB2559385 A GB 2559385A GB 201701822 A GB201701822 A GB 201701822A GB 2559385 A GB2559385 A GB 2559385A
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United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
display element
flap
merchandising
merchandising display
base plate
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
GB1701822.7A
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GB2559385B (en
GB201701822D0 (en
Inventor
Atkinson Andy
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Alplas Ltd
Original Assignee
Alplas Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Alplas Ltd filed Critical Alplas Ltd
Priority to GB1701822.7A priority Critical patent/GB2559385B/en
Publication of GB201701822D0 publication Critical patent/GB201701822D0/en
Priority to EP18154892.6A priority patent/EP3357374A1/en
Publication of GB2559385A publication Critical patent/GB2559385A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of GB2559385B publication Critical patent/GB2559385B/en
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

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Classifications

    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47FSPECIAL FURNITURE, FITTINGS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR SHOPS, STOREHOUSES, BARS, RESTAURANTS OR THE LIKE; PAYING COUNTERS
    • A47F5/00Show stands, hangers, or shelves characterised by their constructional features
    • A47F5/08Show stands, hangers, or shelves characterised by their constructional features secured to the wall, ceiling, or the like; Wall-bracket display devices
    • A47F5/0807Display panels, grids or rods used for suspending merchandise or cards supporting articles; Movable brackets therefor
    • A47F5/0861Anti-theft means therefor
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47FSPECIAL FURNITURE, FITTINGS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR SHOPS, STOREHOUSES, BARS, RESTAURANTS OR THE LIKE; PAYING COUNTERS
    • A47F5/00Show stands, hangers, or shelves characterised by their constructional features
    • A47F5/08Show stands, hangers, or shelves characterised by their constructional features secured to the wall, ceiling, or the like; Wall-bracket display devices
    • A47F5/0807Display panels, grids or rods used for suspending merchandise or cards supporting articles; Movable brackets therefor
    • A47F5/083Grids; Article supports therefor
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47FSPECIAL FURNITURE, FITTINGS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR SHOPS, STOREHOUSES, BARS, RESTAURANTS OR THE LIKE; PAYING COUNTERS
    • A47F5/00Show stands, hangers, or shelves characterised by their constructional features
    • A47F5/08Show stands, hangers, or shelves characterised by their constructional features secured to the wall, ceiling, or the like; Wall-bracket display devices
    • A47F5/0807Display panels, grids or rods used for suspending merchandise or cards supporting articles; Movable brackets therefor
    • A47F5/0838Rails or bars; Article supports therefor, e.g. brackets being slidably attached on the outside thereof
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47FSPECIAL FURNITURE, FITTINGS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR SHOPS, STOREHOUSES, BARS, RESTAURANTS OR THE LIKE; PAYING COUNTERS
    • A47F5/00Show stands, hangers, or shelves characterised by their constructional features
    • A47F5/08Show stands, hangers, or shelves characterised by their constructional features secured to the wall, ceiling, or the like; Wall-bracket display devices
    • A47F5/0807Display panels, grids or rods used for suspending merchandise or cards supporting articles; Movable brackets therefor
    • A47F5/0869Accessories for article-supporting brackets, e.g. price- indicating means, not covered by a single one of groups A47F5/08
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47FSPECIAL FURNITURE, FITTINGS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR SHOPS, STOREHOUSES, BARS, RESTAURANTS OR THE LIKE; PAYING COUNTERS
    • A47F7/00Show stands, hangers, or shelves, adapted for particular articles or materials
    • A47F7/02Show stands, hangers, or shelves, adapted for particular articles or materials for jewellery, dentures, watches, eye-glasses, lenses, or the like
    • A47F7/024Show stands, hangers, or shelves, adapted for particular articles or materials for jewellery, dentures, watches, eye-glasses, lenses, or the like with provisions for preventing unauthorised removal

Abstract

A merchandising display element comprising a base plate, a flap mounted to a first end of the base plate by a hinge, a tab mounted to a second end by a hinge and means for attachment to a display element wherein in a closed position the flap folds over the base plate, the tab extends through an opening in the flap and engages a complimentary closure means on the base plate and the flap has an extended distal section which extends beyond second end of the base plate. The extended flap portion is designed as a theft deterrent to prevent sweeping and the device may be employed as a swing tag on a hanger. The closure means may also engage a locking member on the tab and a snap fitting stud and aperture may be employed.

Description

(54) Title of the Invention: Merchandising display element Abstract Title: Anti-sweep swing tag (57) A merchandising display element comprising a base plate, a flap mounted to a first end of the base plate by a hinge, a tab mounted to a second end by a hinge and means for attachment to a display element wherein in a closed position the flap folds over the base plate, the tab extends through an opening in the flap and engages a complimentary closure means on the base plate and the flap has an extended distal section which extends beyond second end of the base plate. The extended flap portion is designed as a theft deterrent to prevent sweeping and the device may be employed as a swing tag on a hanger. The closure means may also engage a locking member on the tab and a snap fitting stud and aperture may be employed.
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Figure GB2559385A_D0004
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Figure GB2559385A_D0007
Figure GB2559385A_D0008
- 1 Merchandising Display Element
This invention relates, in a first aspect thereof, to a merchandising display element. In particular, the invention relates to a merchandising display element adapted to hinder or prevent theft or other unauthorised removal of displayed items of merchandise. In a second aspect, the invention also relates to a merchandising display assembly incorporating such a merchandising display element.
A widely-used point of sale (POS) or point of purchase (POP) display system involves a board, shelving surface, bar, or similar mounting structure, to which are attached a plurality of elongate protruding hooks or hangers. The merchandise is suspended from these hangers, often in carded display packaging, or other slotted packaging.
A range of different hooks and hangers has been developed over the years, having differing lengths and configurations to suit the particular retail application. However, one particular configuration of hanger has, at least in Europe, come to represent the standard configuration used in the industry. The so-called “Eurohook” is usually a double-pronged hanger, the twin prongs extending in parallel from a fixed base plate designed to attach to the board by means of clips, tabs, hooks or spikes provided on the reverse thereof. The twin prongs have an upwardly angled end section so as to enable packaged goods to be retained on the hanger. An end bar bridges the ends of the prongs both providing strength and presenting a location for attaching a swing tag or label showing, for example, the price of the merchandise displayed. Alternative variants of the Eurohook may feature flat or profiled plates, in place of the double-2pronged construction, but still featuring an end bar at the terminal end, distal from the mounting structure.
Swing tags designed to attach to the end bars of Eurohook-type display hangers, or similar merchandising hangers, as described above are generally arranged to rotate relatively freely around the bar. Items of merchandise displayed on the hanger can thus be removed relatively easily by sliding the carded or other slotted display packaging along the hanger to the end, whereupon the swing tag is caused to rotate until it lies generally co-planar with the angled end section. The carded or other slotted display packaging can then be slid over the swing tag to remove the item of merchandise from the hanger. The above described removal can easily be executed in a single continuous movement, and with one hand.
The ease of removal of merchandise from a Eurohook-type or similar merchandising hanger with a swing tag as described above has been seen as a 15 desirable feature of the system. However, this ease of removal also gives rise to a major shortcoming in that it facilitates theft, or other unauthorised removal of merchandise from the hanger. In particular, the above described arrangement facilitates a shoplifting practice known as “sweeping”, in which a shoplifter slides a number of merchandise items off a display, often directly into a coat pocket, or a bag or other container, in a single continuous movement.
The present invention seeks to address the above issue by providing a merchandising display element intended to take the place of the conventional swing tag typically used with Eurohook-type hangers, or similar merchandising hangers. The merchandising display element of the present invention seeks to prevent or hinder theft or other unauthorised removal of merchandise items from
-3 a display when hanging in its normal orientation, whilst still permitting genuine removal of merchandise when in a rotated orientation.
According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a merchandising display element comprising:
- a base plate having a first end and an opposed second end;
- a flap mounted via a first hinge on the first end of the base plate, said flap having a main section and being adapted for hinged movement between an open position and a closed position wherein said main section overlies the base plate;
- a tab mounted via a second hinge on the second end of the base plate, 10 said tab being adapted for hinged movement between an open position and a closed position wherein said tab overlies the base plate, the tab having an end distal from said second hinge, and adapted so as thereby at least partially to overlie the flap when both the flap and the tab are in their closed positions;
- complementary closure means provided on each of the base plate and 15 the tab and adapted to lock the flap in its closed position; and
- attachment means adapted to enable attachment of the display element to a merchandising hanger when the flap is locked in its closed position;
characterised in that:
- the flap has an extended section distal from the first hinge and adapted 20 to extend beyond the second end of the base plate when the flap is in its closed position;
- the flap further comprises an opening formed therein, disposed towards said extended section, and adapted to overlie the second end of the base plate, when the flap is in its closed position;
-4- the end of the tab distal from the second hinge is arranged to pass through the opening thereby at least partially to overlie the flap when both the flap and the tab are in their closed positions; and
- the complementary closure means are adapted to co-operate through the 5 opening, thereby to lock the flap in its closed position.
The complementary closure means preferably comprises a first closure member provided on the base plate and adapted to engage with a second closure member provided on the tab. The first closure member is preferably disposed towards the second end of the base plate.
In preferred embodiments of the present invention, the first closure member comprises an aperture formed in the base plate, and the second closure member comprises a protruding stud formed on the tab. The stud is preferably of complementary size and shape to the aperture, and is adapted to be received therein in a snap-fitting arrangement when the tab is in its closed position. The base plate preferably further comprises a tubular collar formed as an axial extension of the aperture, thereby further to secure the stud when received therein. The opening in the flap preferably has a shaped edge adapted to cooperate with the first closure member when the flap is in its closed position.
The merchandising display element, which will generally be formed from plastics material, is preferably constructed such that the attachment means is formed in the second hinge, by which the tab is mounted on the base plate. More preferably, the attachment means defines a tubular bore adapted to receive an end bar of a merchandising hanger. Most preferably, said tubular bore is generally cylindrical.
- 5 In preferred embodiments of merchandising display element according to the present invention, the base plate has first and second opposed sides, arranged perpendicular to the first and second opposed ends, said first and second opposed sides each forming an inwardly tapered portion towards the second end of said base plate. The flap preferably has first and second opposed ramp portions arranged either side of the opening and connecting the main section to the extended section such that said extended section is arranged in a plane parallel to and below that of said main section. As such, when the flap is in its closed position, the ramp portions thereof are arranged to overlie the tapered portions of the base plate.
The main section of the flap may optionally have a further opening adapted to receive a merchandising display card.
As discussed hereinbefore, the merchandising display element is intended for use in combination with a merchandising hanger. Therefore, according to a 15 second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a merchandising display assembly comprising:
- a merchandising display element as hereinbefore described; and
- a merchandising hanger;
wherein said merchandising display element is adapted to be attached to 20 said merchandising hanger, when both the flap and the tab are in their closed positions.
The merchandising hanger preferably has an end bar, and the merchandising display element is preferably adapted to be attached to the merchandising hanger by receiving said end bar in the tubular bore of the attachment means formed in the second hinge thereof.
-6More preferably, the merchandising hanger is a double-pronged hanger of a Eurohook-type construction, having twin prongs extending in parallel and having an upwardly angled end section so as to enable packaged goods to be retained thereon, said prongs being bridged by the end bar.
When the merchandising display element is attached to the merchandising hanger, the merchandising display element is preferably arranged normally to hang in a vertical orientation such that the extended section of the flap is disposed generally vertically, and extends upwards beyond the plane of the hanger prongs, said extended section thereby preventing removal of items displayed on said hanger. Unlike with conventional swing tags, sliding carded or slotted display packaging items along the hanger to the end thereof will not permit removal of said items. This is because the display packaging will abut simultaneously against both the downwardly-extending part of the element (comprising the main section of the flap overlying the base plate) and the upwardly-extending part of the element, namely the extended section of the flap.
The merchandising display element is however arranged so as freely to rotate around the end bar in at least a first direction, defined by pushing the extended section of the flap towards the angled end section of the hanger, or alternatively by lifting the main section and base plate assembly to achieve the same result. This enables the merchandising display element to achieve a rotated orientation wherein the extended section of the flap abuts against an upper surface of the angled end section, whereupon the display element is arranged to lie generally coplanar with the angled end section, thus permitting merchandise items displayed on said hanger to be removed therefrom by sliding said items along the hanger and over the merchandising display element. It will
-7 be appreciated that the rotated orientation also permits the loading of merchandise items onto the hanger.
However, the merchandising display element is biased by virtue of its weight distribution towards the vertical orientation as hereinbefore described.
Manual pressure must therefore be applied to the merchandising display element in order to maintain the element in the rotated orientation as described above.
This means that a user must use one hand to rotate the merchandising display element, and to maintain it in the rotated orientation, and the other hand to slide a merchandise item off the hanger and over the element. The need for the user 10 to use both hands for this operation greatly hinders the ability of a shoplifter to perform a “sweep” theft, where multiple items are swept off a hanger into a bag or coat pocket in a single continuous movement.
In order that the present invention may be fully understood, preferred embodiments thereof will now be described in detail, though only by way of 15 example, with reference to the following drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a front view of a preferred embodiment of merchandising display element according to a first aspect of the present invention, in its open position;
Figure 2 is a side view of the merchandising display element of Figure 1, 20 in its open position;
Figure 3 is a rear view of the merchandising display element of Figures 1 and 2, in its open position;
Figure 4 is a front view of the merchandising display element of Figures 1 to 3, in its closed position;
- 8 Figure 5 is a side view of the merchandising display element of Figures 1 to 4, in its closed position;
Figure 6 is a rear view of the merchandising display element of Figures 1 to 5, in its closed position;
Figures 7 to 11 are an illustrative sequence showing the merchandising display element of Figures 1 to 6 being altered from its open position to its closed position;
Figures 12 and 13 an illustrative sequence showing the merchandising display element of Figures 1 to 11 being attached to a merchandising hanger;
Figure 14 shows a perspective view of a merchandising display assembly according to a second aspect of the present invention, comprising a merchandising display element of Figures 1 to 11 attached to a merchandising hanger, and arranged in the vertical orientation;
Figure 15 shows a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of merchandising display assembly, comprising a merchandising display element of Figures 1 to 11 attached to an alternative variant of merchandising hanger, and arranged in the vertical orientation;
Figure 16 shows a perspective view of the merchandising display assembly of Figure 15, with the merchandising display element arranged in the rotated orientation to permit the loading or removal of a merchandise item;
Figure 17 shows a perspective view of the merchandising display assembly of Figures 15 and 16, with the merchandising display element arranged in the vertical orientation, and with a merchandise item mounted on the hanger;
and
-9Figure 18 shows a perspective view of the merchandising display assembly of Figures 15 to 17, with the merchandising display element arranged to prevent removal of the merchandise item.
Referring first to Figures 1 to 3, there is shown a preferred embodiment of merchandising display element, generally indicated 10, according to a first aspect of the present invention. The merchandising display element 10 takes the form of a swing tag adapted for mounting on an end bar of a double-pronged merchandising hanger of the Eurohook type, as will be described in more detail below with reference to Figures 12 to 18. The element 10 is arranged to be varied between an open configuration, as shown in Figures 1 to 3, and a closed configuration, as will be described in more detail below with reference to Figures to 6.
The element 10 comprises a base plate 11 having first and second opposed ends 12, 13, and first and second opposed sides 14, 15 arranged 15 perpendicular to said ends 12, 13. Each of the opposed sides 14, 15 has an inwardly tapered portion 16, 17, disposed towards the second end 13.
A flap 18 is mounted on the base plate 11 via a first hinge 19 formed in the first end 12 of the base plate 11. The flap 18 has a main section 21 and an extended section 22 distal from the first hinge 19. A first opening 23 is formed in the flap 18 between the main section 21 and the extended section 22, whilst a second opening 24 is formed in the main section 21. The extended section 22 is connected to the main section 21 via first and second ramp portions 25, 26 arranged either side of the first opening 23. The ramp portions 25, 26 connect the extended section 22 to the main section 21 such that the extended section 22
- 10 is arranged in a plane parallel to and below that of the main section 21, as can best be seen from Figure 2.
A tab 27 is mounted on the base plate 11 via a second hinge 28 formed in the second end 13 of the base plate 11. The tab 27 is provided with a protruding stud 29 adapted to engage with a complementary aperture 31 formed in the base plate 11. The aperture 31 is further provided with a tubular collar 32 formed as an axial extension ofthe aperture 31. As can best be seen in Figure 2, the second hinge 28 is formed with adjacent sections 33, 34 of generally semi-circular profile. Referring now to Figures 4 to 6, these show the merchandising display element 10 in its closed configuration. The flap 18 has now been rotated about the first hinge 19, to overlie the base plate 11. As can be seen, the extended section 22 now extends beyond the second end 13 of the base plate 11, whilst the first opening 23 overlies said second end 13. The ramp portions 25, 26 of the flap are now arranged to overlie the tapered portions 16, 17 of the sides 14, 15 of the base plate 11. As can best be seen from Figure 5, the extended section 22 now lies in a plane parallel to, but offset from, that of the base plate 11.
The tab 27 has now also been rotated about the second hinge 28, and passes through the first opening 23 in the flap 18 so as partially to overlie both the base plate 11 and the flap 18. The protruding stud 29 on the tab 27 now engages with the aperture 31 on the base plate 11, in order to lock the element 10 in its closed configuration. Although not visible in Figures 4 to 6, the first opening 23 is formed with a shaped edge 35 adapted to co-operate with the tubular collar 32 of the aperture 31 in order to facilitate this engagement.
- 11 As can also best be seen from Figure 5, the semi-circular sections 33, 34 adjacent the second hinge 28 are now joined to define a tubular bore 36 within which can be received an end bar of a merchandising hanger.
Referring now to Figures 7 to 11, there is shown an illustrative sequence depicting the process of altering the merchandising display element 10 between its open configuration, as described above with reference to Figures 1 to 3, and its closed configuration, as described above with reference to Figures 4 to 6.
Figure 7 shows the merchandising display element 10 in its open configuration, as described above with reference to Figures 1 to 3. The process of altering the element 10 to form its closed configuration begins with rotating the flap 18 through around 90° about the first hinge 19, in order to reach the configuration shown in Figure 8. The tab 27 is then rotated through around 90° about the second hinge 28, in order to reach the configuration shown in Figure 9.
The next step is to continue the rotation of the flap 18 through around a further 90° about the first hinge 19, so that the flap 18 overlies the base plate 11, as shown in Figure 10. At the same time, as can also be seen in Figure 10, the tab 27 is passed through the first opening 23 in the flap 18.
The final step is to continue the rotation of the tab 27 through around a further 90° about the second hinge 28, so that the tab 27 overlies both the flap
18 and the base plate 11, as shown in Figure 11, which shows the merchandising display element 10 in its closed configuration, as described above with reference to Figures 4 to 6. At the same time, the stud 29 is brought into engagement with the aperture 31 in order to lock the element 10 in its closed configuration. It should be noted that during this final step, as perhaps best explained with reference to Figure 9, the semi-circular sections 33, 34 are brought together to
- 12 define the tubular bore 36 which enables mounting of the element 10 on the end bar of a merchandising hanger.
Referring now to Figures 12 and 13, these show the merchandising display element 10 in the same configurations as described above with reference to
Figures 10 and 11, respectively, but with the merchandising display element 10 being attached to a merchandising hanger 40 of the Eurohook-type, thus forming a merchandising display assembly, generally indicated 50, according to a second aspect of the present invention. The hanger 40 comprises a pair of parallel prongs 41 extending from a mounting plate 42, and having an upwardly angled end section 43. An end bar 44 bridges the prongs 41 at their end distal from the mounting plate 42.
As can be seen in Figure 12, once the merchandising display element 10 has been brought into the configuration shown in Figure 10, the tab 27 is looped over the end bar 44 of the hanger 40, thus bringing the semi-circular sections 33, 15 34 together to form the tubular bore 36 around the end bar 44, as shown in Figure
13.
Referring now to Figures 14 and 15, these show alternative variants of
Eurohook-type merchandising hanger 40 for use in the merchandising display assembly, 50, according to the second aspect of the present invention. The variants are broadly similar in terms of their constituent parts, though the variant shown in Figure 14 is formed of plastics material, whilst the variant shown in Figure 15 is formed of metal. As can be seen, the construction of the mounting plate 42 differs between these variants.
The merchandising display assembly 50 is shown in Figures 14 and 15 with the merchandising display element 10 in its normal vertical orientation. The
- 13 element 10 hangs on the end bar 44 of the hanger 40, with the base plate 11 extending vertically downwards, and the extended section 22 extending vertically upwards. The element 10 is normally biased, by virtue of its weight distribution, towards this vertical orientation.
Referring now to Figure 16, this shows the merchandising display assembly 50 with the merchandising display element 10 in is rotated orientation, such that the extended section 22 abuts against the upper surface of the upwardly angled end section 43 of the hanger 40. The display element 10 is thus arranged coplanar with the angled end section 43. In order to achieve and maintain this rotated orientation, manual pressure must be applied to push the extended section 22 towards the angled end section 43, or alternatively to lift the main section 21 and base plate 11 to achieve the same result.
With the merchandising display element 10 in the rotated orientation, a carded merchandise item 60 having a slot 61 therein, is permitted to be loaded on to the hanger 40. This is done by inserting the merchandising display element 10 into the slot 61, and sliding the carded merchandise item 60 over the merchandising display element 10 and onto the hanger 40. Release of manual pressure from the extended section 22 will then cause the merchandising display element 10 to swing back to its normal vertical orientation, to achieve the configuration shown in Figure 17.
In order to remove the merchandise item 60 from the hanger 40, the user must again apply and maintain manual pressure to push the extended section
22, or to lift the main section 21 and base plate 11, so as to return the merchandising display element 10 to the rotated orientation shown in Figure 16.
The user is required to use one hand to apply and maintain the manual pressure
- 14 on the merchandising display element 10, and the other hand to slide the merchandise item 60 off the hanger 40 and over the merchandising display element 10.
Attempting to remove the merchandise item 60 from the hanger 40 without first placing the merchandising display element 10 in its rotated orientation will result in the configuration shown in Figure 18. As can be seen, here the merchandise item 60 abuts against both the main section 21 of the flap 18 (which overlies the base plate 11) and the extended section 22. The presence of the extended section 22 prevents the motion of the merchandise item 60 towards the end of the hanger 40 from causing the merchandising display element 10 to rotate to an orientation in which the slot 61 could pass over the element 10. Removal of the merchandise item 60 from the hanger 40 is thus prevented.
As will be appreciated, the need for the user to use both hands in order to remove the merchandise item 60 from the hanger 40 greatly hinders the ability of a shoplifter to perform a “sweep” theft, where multiple items 60 are swept off a hanger 40 into a bag or coat pocket in a single continuous movement.

Claims (9)

  1. Claims
    1. A merchandising display element comprising:
    - a base plate having a first end and an opposed second end;
    5 - a flap mounted via a first hinge on the first end of the base plate, said flap having a main section and being adapted for hinged movement between an open position and a closed position wherein said main section overlies the base plate,;
    - a tab mounted via a second hinge on the second end of the base plate, said tab being adapted for hinged movement between an open position and a
    10 closed position wherein said tab overlies the base plate, the tab having an end distal from said second hinge, and adapted so as thereby at least partially to overlie the flap when both the flap and the tab are in their closed positions;
    - complementary closure means provided on each of the base plate and the tab and adapted to lock the flap in its closed position; and
    15 - attachment means adapted to enable attachment of the display element to a merchandising hanger when the flap is locked in its closed position;
    characterised in that:
    - the flap has an extended section distal from the first hinge and adapted to extend beyond the second end of the base plate when the flap is in its closed
    20 position;
    - the flap further comprise an opening formed therein, disposed towards said extended section, and adapted to overlie the second end of the base plate, when the flap is in its closed position;
    - the end of the tab distal from the second hinge is arranged to pass
    25 through the opening thereby at least partially to overlie the flap when both the flap and the tab are in their closed positions; and
    - 16 - the complementary closure means are adapted to co-operate through the opening, thereby to lock the flap in its closed position.
  2. 2. A merchandising display element as claimed in claim 1, wherein the complementary closure means comprises a first closure member provided on the
    5 base plate and adapted to engage with a second closure member provided on the tab.
  3. 3. A merchandising display element as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first closure member is disposed towards the second end of the base plate.
  4. 4. A merchandising display element as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3, wherein
    10 the first closure member comprises an aperture formed in the base plate, and the second closure member comprises a protruding stud formed on the tab, said stud being of complementary size and shape to the aperture, and adapted to be received therein in a snap-fitting arrangement when the tab is in its closed position.
    15 5. A merchandising display element as claimed in claim 4, wherein the base plate further comprises a tubular collar formed as an axial extension of the aperture, thereby further to secure the stud when received therein.
    6. A merchandising display element as claimed in any of claim 2 to 5, wherein the opening has a shaped edge adapted to co-operate with the first closure
    20 member when the flap is in its closed position.
    7. A merchandising display element as claimed in any of the preceding claims, formed from plastics material.
    8. A merchandising display element as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the attachment means is formed in the second hinge, by which
    25 the tab is mounted on the base plate.
    - 17 9. A merchandising display element as claimed in claim 8, wherein the attachment means defines a tubular bore adapted to receive an end bar of a merchandising hanger.
    10. A merchandising display element as claimed in claim 9, wherein the bore 5 is generally cylindrical.
    11. A merchandising display element as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein:
    - the base plate has first and second opposed sides, arranged perpendicular to the first and second opposed ends, said first and second
    10 opposed sides each forming an inwardly tapered portion towards the second end of said base plate;
    and characterised in that:
    - the flap has first and second opposed ramp portions arranged either side of the opening and connecting the main section to the extended section such that 15 said extended section is arranged in a plane parallel to and below that of said main section;
    and wherein, when the flap is in its closed position, the ramp portions thereof are arranged to overlie the tapered portions of the base plate.
    12. A merchandising display element as claimed in any of the preceding 20 claims, wherein the main section of the flap comprises a further opening adapted to receive a merchandising display card.
    13. A merchandising display assembly comprising:
    - a merchandising display element as claimed in any of the preceding claims; and
    - a merchandising hanger;
    - 18 and wherein said merchandising display element is adapted to be attached to said merchandising hanger, when both the flap and the tab are in their closed positions.
    14. A merchandising display assembly as claimed in claim 13 comprising:
  5. 5 - a merchandising display element as claimed in claim 9 or claim 10; and
    - a merchandising hanger having an end bar;
    and wherein the merchandising display element is adapted to be attached to the merchandising hanger by receiving said end bar in the tubular bore of the attachment means formed in the second hinge thereof.
  6. 10 15. A merchandising display assembly as claimed in claim 14, wherein the merchandising hanger is a double-pronged hanger having twin prongs extending in parallel and having an upwardly angled end section so as to enable packaged goods to be retained thereon, said prongs being bridged by said end bar.
    16. A merchandising display assembly as claimed in claim 15, characterised
  7. 15 in that when the merchandising display element is attached to the merchandising hanger, the merchandising display element is arranged normally to hang in a vertical orientation such that the extended section of the flap is disposed generally vertically, and extends upwards beyond the plane of the hanger prongs, said extended section thereby preventing removal of items displayed on said hanger.
  8. 20 17. A merchandising display assembly as claimed in claim 16, characterised in that, when the merchandising display element is attached to the merchandising hanger, said element is arranged so as freely to rotate around said end bar in at least a first direction, by pushing the extended section of the flap towards the angled end section of the hanger, or by lifting the assembled main section and
  9. 25 base plate, to achieve a rotated orientation wherein said extended section of the
    - 19 flap abuts against an upper surface of said angled end section, whereupon the display element is arranged to lie generally coplanar with said angled end section, thus permitting an item displayed on said hanger to be removed therefrom by sliding said item along the hanger and over the merchandising display element.
    5 18. A merchandising display assembly as claimed in claim 17, wherein the merchandising display element is biased by virtue of its weight distribution towards the vertical orientation, and wherein manual pressure must be applied to the merchandising display element in order to maintain the element in the rotated orientation, such that in order to remove a merchandise item from the hanger, a
    10 user is required to use one hand to maintain the merchandising display element in the rotated orientation, and the other hand to slide said merchandise item off the hanger and over the merchandising display element.
    Intellectual
    Property
    Office
    Application No: GB1701822.7
GB1701822.7A 2017-02-03 2017-02-03 Merchandising display element Expired - Fee Related GB2559385B (en)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB1701822.7A GB2559385B (en) 2017-02-03 2017-02-03 Merchandising display element
EP18154892.6A EP3357374A1 (en) 2017-02-03 2018-02-02 Merchandising display element

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB1701822.7A GB2559385B (en) 2017-02-03 2017-02-03 Merchandising display element

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB201701822D0 GB201701822D0 (en) 2017-03-22
GB2559385A true GB2559385A (en) 2018-08-08
GB2559385B GB2559385B (en) 2020-06-03

Family

ID=58462226

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB1701822.7A Expired - Fee Related GB2559385B (en) 2017-02-03 2017-02-03 Merchandising display element

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP3357374A1 (en)
GB (1) GB2559385B (en)

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5711432A (en) * 1996-03-15 1998-01-27 Display Technologies, Inc. Pilfer-resistant peg hook assembly
WO2006119263A2 (en) * 2005-04-29 2006-11-09 Display Technologies Anti-sweep assembly and apparatus
US20130248469A1 (en) * 2012-03-20 2013-09-26 Exhibition Displays Australia Pty Ltd Anti-sweep hook device

Family Cites Families (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2436453A1 (en) * 1978-09-18 1980-04-11 Balaine Daniel Antitheft clip for tie or scarf in shop - comprises plastics tab folding around tie and fastening with non-removable stud
TWM439552U (en) * 2012-05-28 2012-10-21 Ming-Hong Lin Tool hanging card

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5711432A (en) * 1996-03-15 1998-01-27 Display Technologies, Inc. Pilfer-resistant peg hook assembly
WO2006119263A2 (en) * 2005-04-29 2006-11-09 Display Technologies Anti-sweep assembly and apparatus
US20130248469A1 (en) * 2012-03-20 2013-09-26 Exhibition Displays Australia Pty Ltd Anti-sweep hook device

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB2559385B (en) 2020-06-03
EP3357374A1 (en) 2018-08-08
GB201701822D0 (en) 2017-03-22

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