Title: Inventory restraining device for merchandise display hook

Do you think this is a good invention? Vote now:

Votes so far: For:(0) Against:(0)
Claims: I claim:

1. Apparatus for displaying merchandise of the type wherein the merchandise is attached to a card having a hole through it, said apparatus comprising in combination:

a base;

a rod having a back end attached to said base, said rod extending from the base to a front end and passing through a hole in a card; and,

a unitary restraining device of resilient material of a uniform horseshoe-shaped cross section consisting of two arms extending from a body a distance exceeding the diameter of the hole in the card, a re-entrant cavity being defined between said arms, the closest spacing between said arms being less than the diameter of said rod, whereby when a central portion of said rod is forced into removable engagement with the re-entrant cavity defined between the arms a resilient restoring force is produced causing the arms to grip said rod so tightly that said restraining device can be moved along said rod only by a force deliberately applied to said restraining device by an operator;

said restraining device thusly removably engaging said rod at a position between the card and said base to prevent casual applied forces weaker than the deliberately applied force from moving the card along said rod toward the back end of said rod.

2. Apparatus for displaying a piece of merchandise, comprising in combination:

a card to which the piece of merchandise is attached, said card having a hole through it;

a base;

a rod having a back end attached to said base, said rod extending from the base to a front end and passing through the hole in said card; and,

a unitary restraining device of an elastomeric material of a uniform horseshoe-shaped cross section consisting of two arms extending from a body a distance exceeding the diameter of the hole in the card, a re-entrant cavity being defined between said arms, the closest spacing between said arms being less than the diameter of said rod, whereby when a central portion of said rod is forced into removable engagement with the re-entrant cavity defined between the arms a resilient restoring force is produced causing the arms to grip said rod so tightly that said restraining device can be moved along said rod only by a force deliberately applied to said restraining device by an operator;

said restraining device thusly removably engaging said rod at a position between said card and said base to prevent casual applied forces weaker than the deliberately applied force from moving said card along said rod toward the back end of said rod.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said restraining device is composed of rubber.

Other info:

Inventors: Brown, Donald M. (Los Angeles, CA, US)

Application Number: 903889
Filing Date: 1978-05-08
Publication_date: 1980-08-19
Assignee:
Primary Class(es): 211/57.1 24/561, 211/54.1, 248/220.41
Other Classes:
US Patent Ref:

1868726	Jul, 1932	Collier	24/138.
2626061	Jan, 1953	Girouard	211/59.
3204313	Sep, 1965	See	24/137.
3308961	Mar, 1967	Chesley	211/49.
3353567	Nov, 1967	Isreeli	24/257.
3494583	Feb, 1970	Parr	24/257.
3780873	Dec, 1973	Silva	211/49.
4013252	Mar, 1977	Braverman	248/220.

Other Refs:
Primary Examiner: Kannan, Philip C.
Assistant Examiner:
Attorney: Smyth, Pavitt, Siegemund, Jones & Martella