Merchandise display hook for fishing rods
View Patent ↗A merchandise display hook for fishing rods has an elongated shaft originating in a hanger fixture for hanging or arranging on a vertical support surface and extends from there to a terminal end formed or affixed with hook formation for carrying a fore section of rod handle. The display hook includes a retainer attached to the shaft in between the hanger fixture and hook formation for retaining a section of the rod handle that is in between the fore section and the rod's butt end. The shaft is arranged to project from the hanger fixture generally horizontally. The hook formation and retainer are cooperatively arranged to cantilever the fishing rod in a suspended projecting disposition. Preferably the hook is hung about head high or higher. A row of such display hooks carrying a procession of fishing rods forms sort of a picket canopy in a retail setting over aisles.
1. A combination of retail shelves, a vertical support structure and a merchandise display hook for fishing rods having a butt portion terminating in a butt end; said combination comprising:
retail shelves occupying floor space and defining aisle space therefrom;
a vertical support structure above the retail shelves; and
a display hook comprising an axial shaft extending from a fore end to an aft end; a bight formation affixed to or formed out of the axial shaft's fore end; a hanger fixture affixed to the axial shaft's aft end for hanging or arranging on the vertical support structure above the retail shelves, wherein the bight formation extends in a plane that is generally transverse to the shaft's axis for undergirding a fore section of the fishing rod's butt portion; and a retainer positioned on the shaft intermediate the hanger fixture and bight formation for partially surrounding a transverse top or bottom segment of an aft section of the fishing rod's butt portion between the fore section thereof and the butt end in order to stabilize the fishing rod when removably displayed by said display hook;
wherein the shaft projects from the hanger fixture horizontally as well as upwardly, and the bight formation and retainer are cooperatively arranged to cantilever the fishing rod from the butt portion thereof in an outwardly projecting upwardly inclined disposition
in front of the vertical support structure, not only above the shelves thereby available for other merchandise at lower elevations, but also above aisle space;
whereby said combination provides retailers with an overhead presentation or display of fishing rods that is not only alluring to shoppers for being up high but also appealing to retailers for freeing up floor space.
2. The combination of claim 1 wherein the bight formation comprises a hook suspended under the shaft.
3. The combination of claim 1 wherein the shaft and the hook are formed from a monolithic single piece of material.
4. The combination of claim 3 wherein the retainer comprises an open ring generally having a C-shape that is suspended under as well as fused to the shaft and extends in a plane that is generally transverse to the shaft's axis.
5. The combination of claim 3 wherein the retainer comprises a closed ring that is suspended under as well as fused to the shaft and extends in a plane that is generally transverse to the shaft's axis.
6. The combination of claim 1 wherein the bight formation and retainer are suspended under the shaft and the retainer extends in a plane that is generally transverse to the shaft's axis and comprises either an upright bight portion or an inverted counterpart.
7. The combination of claim 1 wherein the bight formation and retainer are propped above the shaft and the retainer extends in a plane that is generally transverse to the shaft's axis and comprises either an upright bight portion or an inverted counterpart.
8. The combination of claim 1 wherein:
the shaft is formed from wire rod;
the wire rod shaft extends to a terminal transition, and
the bight formation depends from the shaft at said transition and is an uninterrupted continuation of the same wire rod of the shaft except being formed to produce a hook shape.
9. The combination of claim 8 wherein the retainer comprises a wire rod open ring generally having a C-shape that is suspended by being fused or welded under the shaft and extends in a plane that is generally transverse to the shaft's axis.
10. The combination of claim 1 wherein:
the shaft is formed from wire rod;
the bight formation comprises a wire rod attachment for fusing or welding onto the shaft in an orientation to extend in a plane that is generally transverse to the shaft's axis.
11. A display hook for a fishing rods comprising:
a hanger fixture for hanging or arranging on a vertical support structure, a bight formation for undergirding a fore section of the rod's handle, and a wire rod shaft anchored in the hanger fixture and extending axially to the bight formation wherein the bight formation extends in a plane that is generally transverse to the shaft's axis; and
a retainer attached to the shaft between the hanger fixture and bight formation for partially surrounding a transverse top or bottom segment of an aft section of the rod's handle between the fore section thereof and the rod's butt end in order to stabilize the rod when removably displayed by said display hook;
wherein the shaft projects from the hanger fixture generally horizontally and the bight formation and retainer are cooperatively arranged to cantilever the rod from the handle thereof in an outwardly projecting disposition; and
wherein the bight formation comprises a clip-on attachment for clipping onto the shaft in an orientation to extend in a plane that is generally transverse to the shaft's axis.
12. The combination of claim 8 wherein the retainer comprises a wire rod closed ring that is suspended by being fused or welded under the shaft and extends in a plane that is generally transverse to the shaft's axis.
13. The combination of claim 8 wherein the retainer comprises a clip-on attachment for clipping onto the shaft in an orientation to extend in a plane that is generally transverse to the shaft's axis, said retainer further comprising either an upright bight portion or an inverted counterpart.
14. The display hook of claim 11 wherein the bight formation comprises a reel cradle for cradling a bait-casting reel mounted on the reel mount of the display rod.
15. The display hook of claim 11 wherein the shaft is non-cylindrical and the clip-on attachment's clip portion is formed to match in order to eliminate axial spinning of the clip-on attachment about the shaft's axis.
16. The display hook of claim 11 wherein the bight formation defines in part a channel portion, and which channel portion provides the undergirding support to the fore section of the rod's handle, wherein the channel portion is generally symmetric about a vertical plane of symmetry that also generally contains the shaft's axis so that the rod likewise is projected in generally the same plane in common with the shaft.
17. The combination of claim 1 further comprising:
a plurality of said display hooks, arranged in a row at one elevation above the shelves, whereby said plurality of display hooks display a plurality of fishing rods in form of an elevated, upwardly-inclined picket canopy above aisle space, with the rods inclined at a slight upward angle overhead standing shoppers so that the tip ends are not a hazard to passers-by while also allowing shoppers opportunity to walk in close underneath the butt ends and perform close inspection thereof.