Means of item-retrieval from a display hook and method of using it

Abstract

A simple and economic item-retriever for retrieving an item from a display peg-hook is disclosed. This item-retriever is displayed behind the item behind the item on the peg-hook. The item-retriever has a built-in ‘magnet contact part’ that is accessible to a magnet. The magnet approaches to the ‘magnet contact part’ of the item-retriever within a distance close enough to create a magnetic force that is strong enough to pull the item retriever out of the peg-hook. When the item-retriever is pulled out of the peg-hook by the magnet, the item displayed in front of the item-retriever is also pulled out of the peg-hook because it is in the way. Various means and methods will be described.

1 . An item-retriever ( 1 ,  11 ,  12 ,  13 ,  14 ) for aiding an effort to retrieve an item ( 3 ,  4 ) from a display hook or the like ( 2 ), having 
 a ‘magnet contact part’ ( 1   b ,  11   b ) made of a material that is attracted to a magnet ( 5 ); and    a clearance ( 1   a ,  11   a ) to allow the display hook or the like ( 2 ) to pass through;    wherein the ‘magnet contact part’ ( 1   b ,  11   b ) is designed in such a way that it is not covered completely by the item ( 3 ,  4 ) when the item ( 3 ,  4 ) is displayed in front of the item-retriever ( 1 ,  11 ,  12 ,  13 ,  14 ) on a same display hook or the like ( 2 ), so that a magnet ( 5 ) can approach the ‘magnet contact part’ ( 1   b ,  11   b ) within a distance close enough to create a mutually attractive magnetic force on the ‘magnet contact part’ ( 1   b ,  11   b ), the force being strong enough to pull the item-retriever ( 1 ,  11 ,  12 ,  13 ,  14 ) out of the display hook or the like ( 2 );    whereby the item ( 3 ,  4 ) that is displayed in front of the item-retriever ( 1 ,  11 ,  12 ,  13 ,  14 ) on a same display hook or the like ( 2 ) is pulled out of the hook or the like ( 2 ) together with the item-retriever ( 1 ,  11 ,  12 ,  13 ,  14 ) because the item ( 3 ,  4 ) is in the way when the item-retriever ( 1 ,  11 ,  12 ,  13 ,  14 ) is being pulled out of the display hook or the like ( 2 ).    
     
     
         2 . The invention according to  claim 1 , wherein the clearance ( 1   a ,  11   a ) is in the shape of a hole ( 1   a ).  
     
     
         3 . The invention according to  claim 1 , wherein the clearance ( 1   a ,  11   a ) is in the shape a slit ( 11   a ).  
     
     
         4 . The invention according to  claim 1 , wherein the display hook or the like ( 2 ) is slanted downwardly so that the gravity force pushes the displayed item ( 3 ,  4 ) toward the tip of the display hook or the like ( 2 ), whereby the magnet ( 5 ) meets the ‘magnet contact part’ ( 1   b ,  11   b ) consistently near the tip of the hook or the like ( 2 ) during the retrieving process.  
     
     
         5 . The invention according to  claim 4 , wherein a weight is placed on the rear side of the hook or the like ( 2 ) so as to amplify the downwardly force by the gravity.  
     
     
         6 . The invention according to  claim 1 , wherein a spring is placed on the rear side of the hook or the like ( 2 ) so as to push the displayed item ( 3 ,  4 ) toward the tip of the display hook or the like ( 2 ), whereby the magnet ( 5 ) meets the ‘magnet contact part’ ( 1   b ,  11   b ) consistently near the tip of the hook or the like ( 2 ) during the retrieving process.  
     
     
         7 . The invention according to  claim 1 , wherein the dimension of the clearance ( 1   a ,  11   a ) is substantially larger than the outer size of the display hook or the like ( 2 ) so as to minimize the resisting force while the item-retriever ( 1 ,  11 ,  12 ,  13 ,  14 ) is pulled out of the display hook or the like ( 2 ).  
     
     
         8 . A method for retrieving an item ( 3 ,  4 ) mechanically from a display hook or the like ( 2 ) by employing an item-retriever which has a ‘magnet contact part’ ( 1   b ,  11   b ) made of a material that is attracted to a magnet ( 5 ), and a clearance ( 1   a ,  11   a ) to allow the display hook or the like ( 2 ) to pass through; 
 wherein the ‘magnet contact part’ ( 1   b ,  11   b ) is designed in such a way that it is not covered completely by the item ( 3 ,  4 ) when the item ( 3 ,  4 ) happens to be displayed in front of the item-retriever ( 1 ,  11 ,  12 ,  13 ,  14 ) on a same display hook or the like ( 2 ), so that a magnet ( 5 ) can approach the ‘magnet contact part’ ( 1   b ,  11   b ) within a distance close enough to create a mutually attractive magnetic force on the ‘magnet contact part’ ( 1   b ,  11   b ), the force being strong enough to pull the item-retriever ( 1 ,  11 ,  12 ,  13 ,  14 ) out of the display hook or the like ( 2 );  
 whereby the item ( 3 ,  4 ) that happens to be displayed in front of the item-retriever ( 1 ,  11 ,  12 ,  13 ,  14 ) on a same display hook or the like ( 2 ) is pulled out of the hook or the like ( 2 ) together with the item-retriever ( 1 ,  11 ,  12 ,  13 ,  14 ) because the item ( 3 ,  4 ) is in the way when the item-retriever ( 1 ,  11 ,  12 ,  13 ,  14 ) is being pulled out of the display hook or the like ( 2 ).