Product management display system with trackless pusher mechanism

• US 20060226095A1
• Filed: 04/25/2006
• Published: 10/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RTC Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: RTC Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Hardy, Stephen N.
• Granted Patent: US 7,823,734 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 211/59.300
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 1/04 Racks or containers with arrangements for dispensing articles , e.g. by means of gravity or springs
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 1/125 with an article-pushing device
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 1/126 the pushing device being urged by spring means

Abstract

A product management display system for merchandising product on a shelf includes using a trackless pusher mechanism that travels along a surface on which product is placed. The pusher mechanism of the invention also includes a pusher paddle and a floor that extends forward of the pusher paddle. A flat coiled spring or other biasing element may be operatively connected behind the pusher paddle and extend across the floor of the pusher mechanism and to the front of the shelf. In use, the product to be merchandised may be placed on the coiled spring and on the floor of the pusher mechanism. With this configuration, the pusher paddle is prevented from tipping or bending backwards during operation. The invention may be used with the merchandising of product on horizontal or non-inclined shelves or surfaces, as well as with gravity-fed systems, or systems that use gravity as a mechanism to urge product toward the front of the shelf.

Claims

1. A product management display system comprising:

a tray defining a surface,

a pusher mechanism mountable on the surface of the tray, the pusher mechanism including a pusher surface and a pusher floor extending forwardly from the pusher surface, wherein the pusher floor slides across the surface of the tray,

a coiled spring attachable to a front portion of the tray, extendable across the pusher floor and operatively connected behind the pusher surface, and

at least one divider mountable to the tray for dividing displayed products into rows.

2. The product management display system of claim 1, further comprising a spring tip attachable to an end of the coiled spring.

3. The product management display system of claim 1, further comprising a front retaining wall attachable to the tray.

4. The product management display system of claim 1, further comprising an adaptor positionable on the surface of the tray.

5. The product management display system of claim 4, wherein the adaptor includes at least one rib extending across the adaptor.

6. The product management display system of claim 5, wherein the adaptor includes at least two parallel extending ribs extending across the adaptor, and wherein the coiled spring is extendable between the at least two parallel extending ribs.

7. The product management display system of claim 1, wherein the surface of the tray may be either a solid surface or a surface defining a plurality of spaced-apart apertures separated by a plurality of support ribs.

8. The product management display system of claim 1, wherein the pusher floor defines a notch.

9. The product management display system of claim 1, wherein the pusher surface is curve shaped.

10. The product management display system of claim 1, further comprising a retaining wall attachable to the surface of the tray and not attachable to the at least one divider.

11. The product management display system of claim 10, wherein the retaining wall defines an opening further defined by an upper member, opposing, curved side walls that further define angled edges, and a floor member.

12. The product management display system of claim 10, wherein the pusher floor defines a channel.

13. The product management display system of claim 1, wherein the pusher floor extends outwardly and substantially perpendicular from the pusher face.

14. An adaptor for a product management display system, the adaptor positionable on a surface of the display system, the display system including a pusher mechanism, the adaptor comprising a planar surface with at least two ribs extending outwardly from the planar surface.

15. The adaptor of claim 14, wherein the planar surface defines a rounded end and a notch formed in the rounded end.

16. The adaptor of claim 14, wherein the at least two ribs are substantially parallel and space apart, and wherein a coiled spring is extendable between the at least two ribs.

17. A trackless pusher mechanism for a product management display system, the trackless pusher mechanism positionable on a surface of the display system comprising:

a pusher surface, and

a pusher floor extending forwardly from the pusher surface, the pusher floor positionable on and movable across the surface of the display system.

18. The trackless pusher mechanism of claim 17, wherein the pusher surface is concave shaped.

19. The trackless pusher mechanism of claim 17, wherein the pusher floor defines a channel for receiving a coiled spring.

20. The trackless pusher mechanism of claim 17, wherein the pusher floor defines a notch and the pusher surface defines a back surface for contact with a coiled spring.