# US 12,215,521 B2 · Anti-theft merchandise hook > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,215,521 B2 - Document ID: US12215521B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/305,032 - Filed: 2023-04-21 - Published: 2023-08-10 - Granted: 2025-02-04 - Earliest claimed: 2020-12-09 - Assignees: Fasteners for Retail, Inc. - Applicants: Fasteners for Retail, Inc. - Inventors: Keith C. Eden; Shane Obitts; Brent O. Ewing; Chan Chor Man - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12215521B2 ## CPC - E05B 45/08: with contact making inside the lock or in the striking plate - A47F 1/128: {for article hangers or brackets} - A47F 5/0006: {Hangers for hanging articles on bars, tringles, bracket arms or the like (dress holders, e.g. for clothing, shoes, A47G25/00; packages for hanging B65D; lockable clothing holders E05B69/00)} - A47F 5/0823: {Article supports for peg-boards} - A47F 5/0861: {Anti-theft means therefor} - A47F 5/0869: {Accessories for article-supporting brackets, e.g. price- indicating means, not covered by a single one of groups A47F5/08 (pushing means therefor A47F1/128)} - E05B 73/00: Devices for locking portable objects against unauthorised removal; Miscellaneous locking devices {(motorcycle helmets A42B3/0413; supporting arrangements specially adapted for fastening helmets B62J11/24; gun racks A47B81/005; showcases with theft protection A47F3/002; anti-theft means for peg-boards, grids or rods for hanging merchandise A47F5/0861; show stands, hangers, shelves with provision against unauthorised removal A47F7/024; for self-service hand-carts A47F10/04; locking skis A63C11/004; locking bolts, nuts or pins F16B41/00)} - G08B 13/14: by lifting or attempted removal of hand-portable articles - G08B 13/149: {with electric, magnetic, capacitive switch actuation} - E05B 47/0012: {with rotary electromotors (actuators with rotary electromotors per se H02K7/06, H02K23/68)} - E05B 2045/065: {Switch or sensor type used in alarm locks} - E05B 2047/0017: {with rotary motion} - E05B: LOCKS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR; HANDCUFFS - A47F: SPECIAL FURNITURE, FITTINGS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR SHOPS, STOREHOUSES, BARS, RESTAURANTS OR THE LIKE; PAYING COUNTERS - G08B: SIGNALLING SYSTEMS, e.g. PERSONAL CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS ## Abstract An anti-theft merchandise hook that includes a top wire connected to a housing portion at a first end of the top wire, and to a mounting portion, used to mount the anti-theft merchandise hook to a stationary surface, at a second end of the top wire opposite the first end. A bottom wire is attached to the mounting portion and extends from the mounting portion toward the housing portion. The bottom wire is configured to hold retail merchandise. A moveable hanger is at least partially disposed within the housing portion. The hanger is configured to move linearly between a closed position in which the hanger abuts the bottom wire, and an open position in which the hanger is spaced some distance from the bottom wire. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An anti-theft merchandise hook comprising: a top wire connected to a housing portion at a first end of the top wire, and to a mounting portion, used to mount the anti-theft merchandise hook to a stationary surface, at a second end of the top wire opposite the first end; a bottom wire attached to the mounting portion and extending from the mounting portion toward the housing portion, the bottom wire configured to hold retail merchandise; a moveable hanger at least partially disposed within the housing portion, the hanger configured to move linearly between a closed position in which the hanger abuts the bottom wire, and an open position in which the hanger is spaced some distance from the bottom wire wherein a plunger is configured to move between a locked position, in which the plunger is seated in a notch in the hanger, and an unlocked position in which the plunger is separated from the hanger; and wherein the plunger is configured to move back and forth in a first direction, and the hanger is configured to move back and forth in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The anti-theft merchandise hook of claim 1, wherein the hanger includes a notch and the hanger is configured to be manually moved into a locking position by a user, and locked into the closed position when the plunger, disposed within the housing portion is seated in the notch. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The anti-theft merchandise hook of claim 1, further comprising electronic circuitry disposed in the housing portion, the electronic circuitry configured to operate an emitter which is configured to emit at least one of an audible alarm or a visible alarm. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The anti-theft merchandise hook of claim 3, wherein the top and/or bottom wire is electrically coupled to the electronic circuitry such that the top and/or bottom wires function as an antenna for the transmission of a wireless radio alarm signal. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The anti-theft merchandise hook of claim 3, wherein the electronic circuitry configured to transmit a wireless radio signal indicative of an alarm condition. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The anti-theft merchandise hook of claim 1, further comprising a limit switch configured to track an amount of time that the hanger is in the open position, and to trigger the alarm signal if the hanger remains open for more than a threshold period of time. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The anti-theft merchandise hook of claim 1, wherein the mounting portion includes a mounting face with means for locking the anti-theft merchandise hook into a mounted position. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The anti-theft merchandise hook of claim 7, wherein the mounting portion further includes a mounting face plunger that is depressed when the mounting portion is mounted flush to a stationary surface, and which triggers an alarm when the mounting face plunger is released. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The anti-theft merchandise hook of claim 1, wherein an end of the hanger that abuts the bottom wire is concave, and an end of the bottom wire that abuts the hanger is convex. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The anti-theft merchandise hook of claim 9, wherein both the hanger and bottom wire include conductive material that form an electrical contact when the bottom wire that abuts the hanger, and wherein the anti-theft merchandise hook is configured to detect the electrical contact.