Product Securement and Management System

• US 20090321373A1
• Filed: 07/01/2009
• Published: 12/31/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RTC Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: RTC Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Hardy, Stephen N.
• Granted Patent: US 8,113,601 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 211/59.3
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 1/12 dispensing from the side of an approximately horizontal stack A47F1/087 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 1/126 the pushing device being urged by spring means
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 3/002 Devices for protection against sunlight or theft
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 5/083 Grids; Article supports therefor

Abstract

A merchandising system that improves the merchandising of product by limiting the number and the frequency with which product can be removed from, for example, a merchandising shelf. The merchandising system may include a base configured to support product and a housing configured to engage the base. The housing may comprise a top wall, a first side wall, a second side wall, and a front retaining wall. The system may further include a spring-urged pusher movably mounted on the base and a dampener assembly mounted to the spring-urged pusher configured to control the rate of speed at which the spring-urged pusher is urged forward.

Claims

1. A merchandising system, comprising:

a base configured to support product;

a housing configured to be engaged with the base, comprising a top wall, a first side wall, a second side wall, and a front retaining wall;

a spring-urged pusher movably mounted on the base;

a dampener assembly mounted to the spring-urged pusher configured to control the rate of speed at which the spring-urged pusher is urged forward.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the front retaining wall is at an angle with respect to the base such that the front retaining wall and the first side wall define an opening through which product can be removed from the base.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the base further comprises a track.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the pusher is adapted to engage the track.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the base further comprises a rack aperture and a rack, wherein the rack defines a plurality of teeth.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the dampener assembly comprises a gear and a gear housing configured to hold a dampening fluid and the gear assembly is adapted to engage the plurality of teeth such that as product is removed from the base, and the pusher is urged forward, gear assembly acts to slow the rate at which the pusher is urged forward.

7. The system of claim 2, wherein the front retaining wall defines a channel proximate the base, wherein the channel defines a detent, wherein a lever is slidably mounted within the channel, wherein the lever is adapted to move from an unextended position to an extended position such that product may be removed from the base through the opening.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the lever includes a lever biasing element and a lever hook adapted to move product, such that the lever biasing element biases the lever in an unextended position.

9. The system of claim 2, wherein the opening is approximately 50% wider than the product.

10. The system of claim 2, wherein the pusher includes a pusher face that is at substantially the same angle as the front retaining wall.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the base further comprises a track.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the pusher is adapted to engage the track.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the base further comprises a rack aperture and a rack, wherein the rack defines a plurality of teeth.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the dampener assembly comprises a gear and a gear housing configured to hold a dampening fluid and the gear assembly is adapted to engage the plurality of teeth such that as product is removed from the base, and the pusher is urged forward, gear assembly acts to slow the rate at which the pusher is urged forward.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the front retaining wall defines a channel proximate the base, wherein the channel defines a detent, wherein a lever is slidably mounted within the channel, wherein the lever is adapted to move from an unextended position to an extended position such that product may be removed from the base through the opening.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the lever includes a lever biasing element and a lever hook adapted to move product, such that the lever biasing element biases the lever in an unextended position.

17. A merchandising system, comprising:

a base configured to support product;

a housing configured to be engaged with the base, comprising a top wall, and at least one side wall;

a rail;

a front retaining wall configured to engage the rail;

a spring-urged pusher movably mounted on the base;

a dampener assembly mounted to the spring-urged pusher configured to control the rate of speed at which the spring-urged pusher is urged forward.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the front retaining wall and housing define an opening through which product can be removed from the base,

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the base further comprises a track.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the pusher is adapted to engage the track.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the base further comprises a rack aperture and a rack, wherein the rack defines a plurality of teeth.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the dampener assembly comprises a gear and a gear housing configured to hold a dampening fluid and the gear assembly is adapted to engage the plurality of teeth such that as product is removed from the base, and the pusher is urged forward, gear assembly acts to slow the rate at which the pusher is urged forward.