US 7,392,673 B2Granted

Lock mechanism for display rod

AssigneeInVue Security Products Inc.

InventorsChristopher J. Fawcett, Ronald M. Marsilio, Keith C. Nagelski

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A lock mechanism is mounted on a pair of vertically spaced merchandise display rods to prevent removal of items of merchandise supported on the lower rod. The lock mechanism includes a housing having a internal lock chamber and a pair of upper and lower slots, each receiving one of the rods therethrough. The lower slot has a side opening enabling the lower rod to pass out of the housing when the housing is pivotally moved on the upper rod to an unlocked open position. A bayonet is slidably moveable in the chamber of the housing and has an elongated slot through which both of the rods extend. A locking device has a magnetically attractable locking tine which locks the housing and bayonet in a closed locked position on the pair of rods. A magnetic key moves the tine to an unlocked position enabling the housing and bayonet to move to an unlocked open position exposing the side opening of the housing lower slot for removing the housing out of engagement with the lower rod.

Claims15

Dependent claims

A lock mechanism for attaching to a pair of vertically spaced upper and lower rods extending outwardly from a support surface for displaying and supporting an item of merchandise on said lower rod, said lock mechanism comprising:

a housing formed with an internal lock chamber and a pair of upper and lower slots, each slot adapted to receive a respective one of the rods therethrough, said lower slot having a side opening configured for allowing passage of the lower rod therethrough when the lock mechanism is in an open unlocked position and for enabling the housing to pivot on the upper rod out of engagement from the lower rod;
a locking bayonet formed with an elongated slot adapted to receive both of the rods therethrough, said bayonet being slidably mounted in the lock chamber of the housing and moveable between a locked position and the unlocked open position;
a locking device including at least one magnetically attractable tine located within the lock chamber of the housing for securing the housing and bayonet in the locked position on the pair of rods;
and
said bayonet blocking the side opening of the lower slot when in the locked position and exposing the side opening of said lower slot when in the unlocked open position to enable the lock mechanism to pivot about the upper rod and to enable the lower rod to move through the side opening of said lower slot to disengage the lock mechanism from the lower rod.

2 more elements

In combination, a lock mechanism for attaching to a pair of spaced rods extending outwardly from a support surface for displaying and supporting an item of merchandise on said lower rod and a magnetic key to unlock the lock mechanism, said lock mechanism comprising:

a housing formed with an internal lock chamber and a pair of slots, each slot adapted to receive a respective one of the rods therethrough, one of said slots having a side opening configured for allowing passage of one of the rods therethrough when the lock mechanism is in an open unlocked position and for enabling the housing to pivot on the other of said rods and out of engagement from the said one rod;
a locking bayonet formed with an elongated slot adapted to receive both of the rods therethrough, said bayonet being slidably mounted in the lock chamber of the housing and moveable between a locked position and the unlocked open position;
said bayonet blocking the side opening when in the locked position and exposing the side opening when in the unlocked open position for enabling the lock mechanism to pivot about the other of said rods and for enabling the one said rod to move through the side opening for disengaging the lock mechanism from the lower rod;
a locking device including at least one magnetically attractable locking tine located within the lock chamber of the housing for securing the housing and bayonet in the locked position on the pair of rods;
a non-circular recess formed in the housing adjacent the locking tine;
the magnetic key containing a magnet having a non-circular cross-sectional configuration complementary to the housing recess for placement in said recess;
and
said magnet being a bipolar magnet.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 11/799,375Filed 1 May 2007 · us provisional application
Priority: 16 Jun 2006
Published: US 2007/0289344 A120 Dec 2007
Granted: 1 Jul 2008
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification13 codes

E05B 47/0045
Using permanent magnets: keys with permanent magnets
A47F 5/0861
Display panels, grids or rods used for suspending merchandise or cards supporting articles; Movable brackets therefor: anti-theft means therefor
E05B 47/004
Using permanent magnets: the magnets acting directly on the bolt
E05B 73/0017
Devices for locking portable objects against unauthorised removal; Miscellaneous locking devices: anti-theft devices, e.g. tags or monitors, fixed…