Conversion bracket for display hook

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/047,956, filed Apr. 25, 2008.

This invention relates generally to display hooks for supporting items of merchandise on a display structure. More particularly, the invention relates to a conversion bracket for mounting a pegboard display hook on alternate display structures.

It is common practice for retailers to display smaller items of merchandise on display hooks mounted to a display structure. The display hook allows a potential purchaser to examine a product prior to purchasing the item. At the same time, the display hook permits the retailer to place several of the items on display for purchase in a limited amount of space, thereby increasing the number of products displayed on the display structure and reducing the frequency needed to stock the products. The number and relatively small size of the items, however, makes the display hooks an attractive target for shoplifters. The shoplifter may attempt to remove all of the items of merchandise from the display hook at one time, referred to in the art as “sweeping,” or may attempt to remove the entire display hook from the display structure. As a result, display hooks have been developed that include an anti-sweeping feature and/or a locking mechanism for locking the display hook to the display structure. For reasons of cost, expediency and convenience it would be advantageous for a retailer to inventory display hooks having the same anti-sweep feature and/or locking mechanism regardless of the type of display structure on which the display hook is mounted. Commonality of display hooks is particularly desirable for retailers that utilize different types of display structures at the same retail location.

The most common type of display structure is pegboard, which is formed from a relatively thin panel having a plurality of vertically and horizontally spaced holes therethrough. Alternate types of display structures include display rack and slatwall. Display racks may be formed from a relatively small diameter wire grid, also referred to as gridwall, or may be formed from larger diameter horizontally-extending rectangular or square bars spaced apart on vertical supports. Slatwall is formed from a relatively thick panel having one or more horizontal rows of uniquely shaped recesses. Historically, display hooks having different mounting structure for mounting the display hook to the display structure have been purchased and maintained in inventory. However, the use of multiple display hooks having different mounting structure increases the number of display hooks that the retailer must purchase and inventory. In addition, the need to locate and use display hooks having different mounting structure for the various types of display structures is inconvenient and unnecessarily increases the amount of time required to prepare a product display.

Accordingly, there exists an unresolved need for retailers to be able to mount a common display hook on alternate types of display structures. There exists a more specific need for a conversion bracket operable for mounting a plurality of display hooks having the same mounting structure on alternate types of display structures. There exists a particular need for a conversion bracket for mounting a display hook having mounting structure configured for pegboard on alternate display structures, namely wire grid and horizontal bar display racks.

The aforementioned needs, objectives and advantages, as well as others readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, are provided by a conversion bracket for mounting a display hook having mounting structure configured for pegboard on an alternate display structure.

In one embodiment, a conversion bracket includes a first mounting plate and a second mounting plate movably coupled to the first mounting plate so as to permit the conversion bracket to be positioned on an alternate display structure. At least one of the first mounting plate and the second mounting plate has at least one mounting opening therethrough for receiving a display hook having mounting structure configured for a pegboard display structure.

In another embodiment, a conversion bracket includes a first mounting plate having at least one first mounting opening therethrough and a second mounting plate having at least one second mounting opening therethrough. The first mounting plate and the second mounting plate are movably coupled together to guide the conversion bracket over the alternate display structure and to position the conversion bracket on the alternate display structure with the mounting structure of a display hook inserted through the first mounting opening and the second mounting opening, thereby securely mounting the display hook on the alternate display structure.

In a further embodiment, the first mounting plate and the second mounting plate are rotatably connected. In yet another embodiment, the first mounting plate and the second mounting plate include a plurality of interlacing hinges, and the conversion bracket further has a hinge pin for joining the interlacing hinges together such that the first mounting plate and the second mounting plate are rotatably connected.

In a further embodiment, at least one of the first mounting plate and the second mounting plate define at least one cavity for receiving a portion of the alternate display structure. In one aspect, a cavity is defined by the first mounting plate and the cavity is configured to receive a wire of a wire grid display rack. In another aspect, a cavity is defined by the second mounting plate and the cavity is configured to receive a bar of a horizontal bar display rack. In yet another aspect, the second mounting plate defines a first cavity configured to receive a bar of a horizontal bar display rack and a second cavity configured to receive a wire of a wire grid display rack.

In a further embodiment, the first mounting pate has a pair of first mounting plates each having at least one first mounting opening and the second mounting plate has a pair of second mounting openings for receiving the mounting structure of the display hook. In one aspect, the pair of first mounting plates are joined together by an integral arm extending therebetween. In another aspect,-the pair of first mounting plates are independently movable relative to the second mounting plate.

In another embodiment, a method of mounting a display hook having mounting structure configured for pegboard on an alternate display structure includes providing a conversion bracket including at least one first mounting plate having at least one first mounting opening therethrough and a second mounting plate having at least one second mounting opening therethrough, the at least one first mounting plate and the second mounting plate being rotatably coupled together. The method further includes rotating the at least one first mounting plate relative to the second mounting plate in a first direction to guide the conversion bracket over the alternate display structure and rotating the at least one first mounting plate relative to the second mounting plate in a second direction to position the conversion bracket on the alternate display structure. The method further includes inserting the mounting structure of the display hook through the at least one first mounting opening and the at least one second mounting opening to mount the display hook on the alternate display structure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following detailed description of the invention is best understood with reference to the accompanying drawing figures in which:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view showing a conventional display hook having mounting structure configured for a pegboard display structure and an exemplary embodiment of a conversion bracket for mounting the display hook on alternate display structures.

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