Alarming Pusher System

• US 20140167962A1
• Filed: 12/13/2012
• Published: 06/19/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fasteners for Retail Incorporated (FFR DSI Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Jorg Niederhufner
• Inventors: Valiulis, Thomas E., Niederhfner, Jrg
• Granted Patent: US 9,129,494 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/568.8
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 1/126 the pushing device being urged by spring means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/026 for alarm, monitoring and auditing in vending machines or means for indication, e.g. when empty
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/14 by lifting or attempted removal of hand-portable articles

Abstract

An alarm device configured to monitor retail merchandise on a retail pusher system is provided. The alarm device includes a triggering mechanism that activates an alarm when retail merchandise is removed from the retail pusher system. The alarm makes store personnel aware that retail merchandise has been removed from a particular pusher system. In certain embodiments of the invention, the alarm device is disposed on a front stop of the retail pusher system. A biasing member of the pusher system biases retail merchandise into a switch of the alarm device. In this configuration, the alarm device may include a plunger switch that activates an alarm when retail merchandise is not biased into the plunger switch.

Claims

1. A retail merchandise pusher system, comprising:

a merchandise guide track for supporting retail merchandise displayed on the pusher system;

a pusher plate operatively connected to a biasing mechanism configured to bias the pusher plate in a biasing direction along the merchandise guide track;

a front stop configured to prevent retail merchandise from being pushed off the pusher system by the pusher plate; and

an alarm device operatively configured to activate an alarm when retail merchandise is removed from the pusher system.

2. The retail merchandise pusher system of claim 1, wherein the alarm device is mechanically fixed to the front stop by a first hook-shaped projection and a second hook-shaped projection, the first and second hook-shaped projections each have a contact portion and a distal portion, the contact portion extends perpendicularly from an inner facing surface of the front stop and the distal portion curves back toward a center axis transverse to the biasing direction.

3. The retail merchandise pusher system of claim 1, wherein the alarm device is fixed to the front stop by foam adhesive strips configured to adhere a back surface of the alarm device to the front stop.

4. The retail merchandise pusher system of claim 1, wherein the alarm device includes a triggering mechanism that activates an alarm when retail merchandise is removed from the pusher system.

5. The retail merchandise pusher system of claim 4, wherein the triggering device is a plunger switch located on a front surface of the alarm device.

6. The retail merchandise pusher system of claim 5, wherein the plunger switch faces the pusher plate such that the pusher plate biases retail merchandise into the plunger switch.

7. The retail merchandise pusher system of claim 5, wherein the plunger switch is actuated under one ounce of pressure.

8. The retail merchandise pusher system of claim 4, wherein the triggering mechanism is a contact switch.

9. The retail merchandise pusher system of claim 4, wherein the triggering mechanism is a light sensitive switch.

10. The retail merchandise pusher system of claim 1, further comprising a remote control that allows a user to deactivate the alarm.

11. An alarm device configured to monitor merchandise displayed on a retail pusher system, comprising:

a front surface oriented to face retail merchandise displayed on a retail pusher system;

a back surface operatively attached to a front stop of the retail pusher system; and

a switch located on the front surface and oriented to interact with the retail merchandise displayed on the retail pusher system.

12. The alarm device of claim 11, wherein the back surface includes at least one foam adhesive strip configured to adhere the alarm device to the front stop of the retail pusher system.

13. The alarm device of claim 11, wherein the alarm device is mechanically fixed to the front stop by a first hook-shaped projection and a second hook-shaped projection, the first and second hook-shaped projections each have a contact portion and a distal portion, the contact portion extends perpendicularly from an inner facing surface of the front stop and the distal portion curves back toward a center axis transverse to the biasing direction.

14. The alarm device of claim 11, wherein the switch is a plunger switch that activates an alarm when the plunger switch is not engaged.

15. The alarm device of claim 11, wherein the back surface includes a resonant structure configured to allow an alarm to sound from the alarm device.

16. The alarm device of claim 11, wherein the switch is a contact switch.

17. The alarm device of claim 12, wherein the switch is a light sensitive switch.

18. A method of alerting retail store personnel of removal of retail merchandise from a retail pusher system, comprising the steps of:

biasing retail merchandise to engage a triggering mechanism of an alarm device configured to monitor retail merchandise displayed on a retail pusher system; and

activating a timed alarm when the triggering mechanism is not engaged by retail merchandise.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising the steps of:

waiting a predetermined period of time after expiration of the timed alarm; and

activating a second timed alarm if the triggering mechanism is not reengaged within the predetermined period of time.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising the steps of:

waiting a predetermined second period of time after expiration of the second timed alarm; and

activating a final alarm if the triggering mechanism is not reengaged within the predetermined second period of time.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the predetermined period of time is two seconds in duration.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the predetermined second period of time is four seconds in duration.

23. The method of claim 20, further comprising the step of deactivating the final alarm after thirty seconds from the initiation of the final alarm.

24. The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of activating the alarm for an increased period of time if the triggering mechanism is actuated a plurality of times within ten seconds.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the increased period of time is at least thirty seconds long.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the plurality of times for the actuation of the triggering mechanism is four actuation events.