for a more adequate understanding of the invention , reference should be had to the drawing wherein there is shown an anti - pilfering device 10 to be employed with a plurality of items 12 displayed in a row , as is common merchandising practice with items of the type shown . the items 12 generally comprise a product 14 which is contained in a shrink package , or bubble pack type packaging on a card 15 , the card 15 having a plurality of holes 16 formed therein such that the item 12 may be supported from a rod , or arrangement of rods , for display purposes . as best shown in fig3 the single central opening 16 is received onto a single rod 18 having an upwardly directed portion 19 at its free end . at the opposite end of the rod 18 , a downwardly projecting leg 20 is affixed to a u - shaped element 22 having a pair of upwardly directed free ends 23 one of which is visible in fig2 of the drawing , the other being identical and lying behind the free end 23 shown . the rod 18 is mounted on the wall surface of a peg board 24 having a plurality of holes 25 formed therein . in assembling the rod 18 to the peg board 24 , the rod is tipped upwardly and the free ends 23 inserted through a pair of openings 25 in the peg board , such that when the rod is dropped to a position shown in fig2 the free ends 23 lie behind the peg board 24 and the downwardly projecting leg 20 rests against the wall surface of the peg board to support the rod 18 substantially at right angles from the surface of the peg board . the structure thus far described is similar to that employed in many stores and outlets , and from which products such as the items 12 are displayed . the items 12 are generally removed in any quantity desired by grasping the number of items and in one motion pulling them forwardly away from the surface of the peg board 24 and from the free end 19 of the rod 18 . in order to limit the number of items which may be removed from the rod 18 in a single gesture , or motion , the present invention provides an anti - pilferage fixture which is generally formed of a plurality of wire members bent to produce the desired configuration and / or welded or soldered for attachment one to the other to form the fixture . as best shown in fig1 the fixture comprises a pair of elongated side members 26 and 28 which extend outwardly from the surface of the peg board 25 and are connected at the forward ends by a substantially horizontal front member 29 . a substantially rectangular frame 30 is attached to the side members 26 and 28 at a predetermined location spaced rearwardly from the front member 29 . the rectangular frame 30 comprises an upper arm 32 , a pair of side arms 33 and 34 , and a pair of lower arms 35 and 36 which form the bottom member of the rectangular frame . the lower arms 35 and 36 each terminate substantially near the center of the rectangular frame 30 and are connected to a pair of bottom members 38 and 40 respectively , each extending rearwardly from the rectangular frame 30 toward the surface of the peg board 24 . as is shown , the free end of the bottom member 38 is directed toward the peg board 24 while the free end of the bottom member 40 is bent at a right angle to the member 40 to lie parallel to the surface of the peg board 24 . referring still to fig1 it will be noted that the rearwardly extending ends of the side members 26 and 28 each are bent inwardly towards one another and substantially parallel to the surface of the peg board 24 . a pair of loops 42 and 44 are formed at each free end of the side members 26 and 28 respectively , each forming an opening for receiving a headed fastener 46 . the headed fastener 46 is provided with a plurality of outwardly projected protuberances 48 on its shank which are dimensioned for interference fit when extended through a respective opening 25 in the peg board 24 . referring now to fig1 and 2 , with the rod 18 mounted as previously described to the peg board 24 , in order to accommodate the anti - pilferage fixture , a spring 50 is threaded along the rod 18 and has its free end inserted between the u - shaped element 22 and the peg board 24 . the items 12 are attached to the rod 18 in alignment by inserting the free end of the rod through the center opening 16 in each of the cards 15 , onto which the product 14 is mounted . with the items 12 in place , the fixture is held as shown in fig1 and the headed fasteners 46 inserted through the loops 42 and 44 . the loops 42 and 44 are aligned with a pair of openings 35 in the peg board 24 and the free end of the bottom member 38 has been formed such that it is also in alignment with another opening 25 in the peg board 24 . the loops 42 and 44 are then placed in contact with the surface of the peg board and the fasteners 46 are forced through openings 25 to retain the fixture in place with the free end of the bottom member 38 extending through an opening 25 in the peg board 24 , and the free end of the bottom member 40 resting on the surface of the peg board 24 . as is shown in fig3 taken in conjunction with fig2 with the fixture so located , the upwardly directed portion 19 of the rod 18 extends beyond the rectangular frame 30 a predetermined distance as does the front member 29 , to inhibit more than a predetermined number ( for example one or two ) of the items 12 to be moved forward of the rectangular frame 30 and rearwardly of the front member 29 which is the area permitting removal of the items from the upwardly directed portion 19 of the rod 18 . in operation , the anti - pilferage device 10 offers the plurality of items 12 in view of the customer and allows the customer to peruse the information contained on the card 15 and to examine the product 14 with relative ease . should the customer desire to purchase an item , or in some cases a pair of items , depending on the area provided between the upwardly directed portion 19 of the rod 18 and the front member 29 , the items are grasped and moved forwardly and upwardly from the space between the upwardly turned end 19 and the front member 29 . however , should a person desire to remove a great number , or all of the items 12 from the rod 18 , it would require that he perform a number of separate removal operations requiring a length of time which would enhance the opportunity to be detected by store personnel , thus lessening the likelihood of pilferage . additionally , due to the side members 26 and 28 , and the bottom members 38 and 40 , the items are inhibited from movement either in the lateral direction or in the downward direction should the person desire to force the items 12 from the rod 18 in the downward or sidewise direction by tearing the card 15 adjacent the opening 16 . although it is apparent that changes and modification may be made within the spirit and scope of the present application , it is my intention , however , only to be limited by the appended claims . as my invention ,
a display device comprising a peg board and a rod extending therefrom for supporting a plurality of aligned items is provided with an anti - pilferage fixture . the anti - pilferage fixture is formed of a cage - like structure supported from the peg board and disposed about the aligned items , which inhibits movement of no more than a predetermined number of items outwardly from the free end of the rod in a single movement , thereby providing a deterrent to the pilfering of a large number of items from the display .