Product securement and management system

• US 20050161420A1
• Filed: 02/01/2005
• Published: 07/28/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RTC Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: RTC Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Ward, John, Gold, Adam, Hardy, Stephen, Syvuk, Max E., Swafford, John W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,661,545 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 211/189
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 1/125 with an article-pushing device
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 3/002 Devices for protection against sunlight or theft
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/08 by opening, e.g. of door, of window, of drawer, of shutter, of curtain, of blind

Abstract

A system for managing and securing product and deterring theft in a retail setting includes a system that resides either on a standard retailer shelf or may be a stand-alone system. In an embodiment, the system includes a plurality of shelves and product dividers positioned between the shelves and extending from the front edges of the shelves toward the rear of the shelves. Front retaining walls are positioned at the front edges of the shelves and are configured to have a height that inhibits access to products on the shelves. Individual retaining tabs of varying height may be added in front of rows of taller product to inhibit access to these products. In an embodiment, rigid or moveable barriers may be positioned above retaining walls that further restrict access to the products. With the invention, the “sweeping” of numerous products by a thief is deterred. In another embodiment, an alert device may be configured to detect and monitor movement of the moveable barriers and may provide an alert signal corresponding to the management of product on the shelf or corresponding to a potential theft situation. In an embodiment, the alert device may communicate with a security camera to monitor the vicinity and provide a notification to the potential thief that his actions are being monitored and recorded, or provide a notification to store computer, pager, cellular telephone, or the like.

Claims

1. A product management and securement system for deterring theft of items from a merchandise display comprising:

a plurality of shelves, including at least a first and second shelf,

a plurality of vertical walls mounted to the shelves, at least some of the vertical walls located between the first and second shelf, and

a retaining wall mounted to the first shelf, the retaining wall having a height that limits access to the items on the first shelf, the retaining wall including an opening to permit product to be pushed back away from the retaining wall.

2. The product management and securement system of claim 1 further comprising a barrier mounted to the second shelf and extending toward the first shelf.

3. The product management and securement system of claim 1 further comprising a movable barrier mounted to the second shelf and extending toward the first shelf.

4. The product management and securement system of claim 3 wherein the movable barrier is operatively connected to an alert device.

5. The product management and securement system of claim 4 wherein the movable barrier is movable from a closed position to an open position, and wherein the alert device provides a signal after the movable barrier has been in the open position for a predetermined amount of time.

6. The product management and securement system of claim 1 further comprising a tab positioned on the shelf and in front of the items, the tab having a height that limits access to the items on the shelf

7. The product management and securement system of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of tabs of varying height positioned on the shelf and in front of the items, wherein the height of the tab limits access to the items on the shelf.

8. The product management and securement system of claim 7 wherein the plurality of tabs are positioned adjacent to the retaining wall.

9. The product management and securement system of claim 1 further comprising at least one product pusher for pushing items on the first or second shelf.

10. The product management and securement system of claim 6 further comprising at least one rail mounted to the shelf, wherein the retaining wall and tab are mounted to the at least one rail, and wherein the retaining wall and tab each include at least one opening therethrough.

11. The product management and securement system of claim 10 wherein the at least one rail has parallel channels for receiving the retaining wall and tab.

12. The product management and securement system of claim 1 further comprising a first floor on a first side of at least one of the plurality of vertical walls and a second floor on a second side of the at least one of the plurality of vertical walls.

13. A system for preventing theft of a product on a shelf comprising:

a display system for displaying product, the display system including multiple shelves and multiple product dividers extending along the shelves,

a first retaining wall mounted near a front edge of at least one of the multiple shelves, and

a second retaining wall mounted near the front edge of at least one of the multiple shelves and adjacent to the first retaining wall, the second retaining wall having a height that limits the removal of product from the shelves.

14. The system of claim 13 further comprising a barrier mounted to at least one of the multiple shelves, the barrier mounted at least partially above the first retaining wall.

15. The system of claim 14 further comprising an alert device mounted to the display system for detecting movement of the barrier, the alert device providing a signal indicating the movement of the barrier.

16. The system of claim 13 wherein the multiple shelves include a first and second shelf, and wherein the second shelf is positioned above the first shelf and in close proximity to a top edge of the product on the first shelf.

17. The system of claim 15 further comprising a receiver for detecting the signal from the alert device and wherein the signal from the alert device is selected from the group consisting of an audible, inaudible, infrared, radio-frequency, cellular, ultrasonic, digital, analog, and electronic signals.

18. The system of claim 13 wherein at least one of the multiple product dividers includes a first floor on the first side of the divider and a second floor on the second side of the divider.

19. A security system that provides multiple levels of product security comprising:

a system for displaying product and providing a first level of product securement to prevent sweeping of product off a shelf, the system further comprising at least one product divider positioned behind the product, a front wall having a height that deters the removal of numerous products at a time from the shelf, the front wall defining a hole therethrough, the at least one product divider extending rearwardly from the front wall, and a top wall located at least in part at or above the top of the product divider.

20. The security system of claim 19 further comprising a second level of product securement that further includes at least one retaining tab, wherein the retaining tab has a height that limits the number of product removed from the system at one time or in one motion.

21. The security system of claim 20 wherein the retaining tab includes at least one hole located in the retaining tab.

22. The security system of claim 20 further comprising a third level of product securement that further includes a barrier adaptable to be located at least in part at or above the top of the product divider.

23. The security system of claim 22 wherein the barrier is a movable barrier mounted to the system above the front wall.

24. The security system of claim 22 further comprising a fourth level of product securement that further includes operatively connecting an alert device to the movable barrier.

25. The security system of claim 24 further comprising a fifth level of product securement that further includes a security camera to monitor the system.

26. The security system of claim 25 further comprising a sixth level of product securement that further includes a monitor positioned nearby the system.

27. A system for displaying merchandise comprising:

a first divider wall,

a second divider wall,

a pusher adaptable to push product located between the first divider wall and the second divider wall,

a retaining wall located toward a front of the first divider wall, the retaining wall defining a height that limits access to the product, and

a barrier located in part above the first divider wall and second divider wall, wherein the barrier assists in preventing the removal of more than two products at one time from between the first divider wall and the second divider wall.

28. A merchandise system comprising:

a display system for displaying product, the display system including a plurality of shelves, a plurality of product dividers and a plurality of pushers,

a retaining wall mounted to at least one of the plurality of shelves,

a barrier mounted to at least one of the plurality of shelves, the barrier mounted above the retaining wall, and

an alert device mounted to the display system capable of providing a signal in the event of a potential theft situation.

29. The system of claim 28 further comprising at least one tab mounted adjacent to the retaining wall.

30. The system of claim 29 wherein the signal is received by a processor for further signal processing, and wherein the further signal processing includes determining whether a theft situation exists.

31. The system of claim 29 wherein the signal is received by a portable signal receiving device selected from the group consisting of a pager, cellular telephone, controller and personal data assistant.

32. The system of claim 28 wherein the barrier restricts access to product on the shelf but is movable to permit access to product on the shelf and wherein movement of the barrier activates the alert device.

33. The system of claim 28 wherein the alert device provides a first signal upon movement of the barrier and provides a second signal after the elapsing of a set period of time.

34. The system of claim 28 further comprising a second retaining wall that may be selectively positioned on the shelves in front of high-risk theft product, wherein the second retaining wall has a height that permits limited access to the product on the shelves to inhibit the removal of numerous product from the shelves, and.

35. The system of claim 34 wherein the second retaining wall includes holes therethrough.

36. A merchandise system comprising:

a plurality of spring-urged pushers,

a plurality of dividers with at least a first and second side, and

a front barrier, wherein the front barrier has a hole therethrough which allows for merchandise to be pushed backward.

37. The merchandise system of claim 36 wherein at least one of the plurality of dividers includes a first floor on a first side of the divider and a second floor on a second side of the divider.

38. A security shelf system comprising:

a display system including a front retaining wall mounted on a shelf and a movable barrier mounted to the system and at least partially above the front retaining wall, the barrier movable from a closed position that inhibits access to product on the shelf to an open position that permits limited access to product on the shelf.

39. The security shelf system of claim 38 further comprising a device for detecting movement of the movable barrier.

40. The security shelf system of claim 38 further comprising at least one product divider positioned on the shelf, the at least one product divider extending rearwardly from the front retaining wall.

41. The security shelf system of claim 38 wherein the barrier and front retaining wall overlap to inhibit access to the product on the shelf.

42. The security shelf system of claim 40 further comprising a second retaining wall mounted next to the front retaining wall, wherein the second retaining wall inhibits the removal of taller product from the shelf.

43. A system for detecting the potential theft of product from a display shelf comprising:

at least one shelf for containing product, the at least one shelf defining a front edge,

a retaining wall operatively mounted to the front edge of the at least one shelf,

a barrier mounted to the system to cooperate with the retaining wall to inhibit access to the product on the at least one shelf, and

a device for detecting movement of the barrier and for providing a signal indicative of the movement of the barrier.

44. The system of claim 43 wherein the barrier is mounted at least partially above the retaining wall.

45. The system of claim 43 wherein the barrier is movable from a closed position to an open position.

46. The system of claim 43 further comprising a plurality of product pushers

47. The system of claim 43 further comprising a sensor for detecting when a person is in the vicinity of the at least one shelf.

48. The system of claim 46 further comprising a monitor and a video camera wherein the monitor is adaptable to switch from displaying an advertisement to displaying images from the video camera.

49. The system of claim 45 further comprising a second retaining wall for selective securement of product on the at least one shelf wherein the retaining wall and the second retaining wall include holes extending therethrough.

50. The system of claim 46 further comprising at least one retaining tab selectively positioned between two of the product dividers.

51. A merchandise system comprising:

a display system for displaying product, the display system including a plurality of product dividers,

a retaining wall mounted to the display system, and

a barrier mounted to the display system, the barrier mounted at least partially above the retaining wall.

52. The system of claim 51 further comprising an alert device mounted to the display system for detecting the removal of numerous product, the alert device capable of providing a signal in the event of a potential theft situation.

53. The system of claim 52 further comprising a receiver for detecting the signal from the alert device.

54. The system of claim 53 further comprising at least one tab mounted adjacent to the retaining wall.

55. The system of claim 51 wherein the retaining wall includes holes therethrough.

56. The system of claim 51 wherein the second retaining wall is positioned between the product dividers and restricted from lateral movement along the display system by the product dividers.

57. A product securement system adapted for use with product pushers, the product securement system comprising:

a plurality of product pushers,

a front barrier, and

a movable barrier placed near a front of a plurality of product pushers, the movable barrier capable of movement between a first position and a second position,

wherein product is more accessible when the movable barrier is in the second position than when the movable barrier is in the first position.

58. The product securement system of claim 57 further comprising a signaling device wherein the signaling device emits a signal when the movable barrier is moved from the first position to the second position.