Product Management Display System

• US 20150320237A1
• Filed: 07/17/2015
• Published: 11/12/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RTC Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: RTC Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Hardy, Stephen N., DiPaolo, Tony, Pirone, John, Parsons, Stuart
• Granted Patent: US 9,486,088 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 57/585 with connection means slidable in a rail
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 73/006 with modular arrangements of identical units
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 87/0223 Shelves stackable by means of poles or tubular members as distance-holders therebetween
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 87/0246 Shelves stackable by means of separate vertical distance-holders therebetween A47B87/0223 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 87/0269 without separate distance holders
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 3/02 with dispensing arrangements A47F1/04 takes precedence; for cigars or cigarettes A24F15/04; for cigarette papers A24F17/00; for hand towels or toilet paper A47K; for photographic paper G03B; coin-freed G07F
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 3/14 Display trays or containers combined with racks A47F5/0025; tray partitions A47F5/005; as racks and transportable with merchandise A47F5/108; made of cardboard A47F5/11; stackable A47B87/02; packing boxes used subsequently as display trays B65D
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 5/0025 having separate display containers or trays on shelves or on racks
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 5/005 Partitions therefore horizontally adjustable A47B57/58; constructional details of drawers A47B88/90
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 5/0068 Shelf extensions, e.g. fixed on price rail
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 5/0093 movable in a substantially horizontal direction
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 7/281 for vertically-stacked containers; Stabilising means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B42F 7/12 Stacked trays
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49863 with prestressing of part

Abstract

A product management display system for merchandising product on a shelf includes a divider secured to a support structure, a pusher to move product, a barrier, and a low product indicator device comprising a protruding portion. The protruding portion is configured to extend forward of the barrier when an amount of product positioned on the top surface of the divider floor or on the shelf is low.

Claims

1. A merchandise display system comprising:

a divider configured to be secured to a support structure, wherein the divider includes a forward end and a rearward end;

the divider includes a divider wall and a divider floor, the divider wall extending upwardly from the divider floor;

a pusher mechanism comprising a biasing device and configured to slide along the divider floor to move a product toward the forward end;

a barrier configured to be positioned proximate the forward end of the divider such that the product positioned on the top surface of the divider floor contacts the barrier when the product moves toward the forward end of the divider;

a low product indicator device comprising a protruding portion, wherein the protruding portion is configured to extend forward of the barrier when an amount of product positioned on the top surface of the divider floor is low.

2. The merchandise display system of claim 1, wherein the low product indicator device is engaged with the pusher such that the low product indicator is configured to slide relative to the divider.

3. The merchandise display system of claim 2, wherein the low product indicator device is adjustably engaged with the pusher.

4. The merchandise display system of claim 3, wherein the low product indicator device comprises a plurality of indexing notches configured to adjustably engage the pusher.

5. The merchandise display system of claim 3, wherein the low product indicator device comprises a plurality of pegs configured to adjustably engage the pusher.

6. The merchandise display system of claim 2, wherein the low product indicator device includes a predetermined stopping point, and wherein low product indicator device is configured to disengage from the pusher at the predetermined stopping point.

7. The merchandise display system of claim 6, wherein the low product indicator device is removably engaged with the pusher.

8. The merchandise display system of claim 6, wherein the low product indicator device is magnetically engaged with the pusher.

9. The merchandise display system of claim 6, wherein the low product indicator device further comprises:

a side wall having a front edge, a back edge and a bottom edge.

10. The merchandise display system of claim 9, wherein the predetermined stopping point is where the front edge of the side wall of the low product indicator device contacts the barrier.

11. The merchandise display system of claim 10, wherein the product indicator device further comprises a magnet, and wherein the magnet is configured to magnetically engage the biasing device of the pusher.

12. The merchandise display system of claim 10, wherein the low product indicator device further comprises an extension spring engaged with the low product indicator at a first end and the pusher at a second end.

13. The merchandise display system of claim 10, wherein the low product indicator device further comprises:

a back wall engaged with the side wall at the back edge; and

a bottom wall engaged with the side wall at the bottom edge.

14. The merchandise display system of claim 13, wherein the bottom wall further comprises a raised portion and the back wall further comprises a rib.

15. The merchandise display system of claim 14, wherein the pusher is configured to engage the low product indicator device rearward of the raised portion and below the rib.

21. The merchandise display system of claim 13, wherein the bottom wall further comprises a raised portion and the back wall further comprises a rib;

and wherein the pusher is configured to engage the low product indicator device rearward of the raised portion and below the rib.

16. A merchandise display system comprising:

a divider configured to be secured to a support structure, wherein the divider includes a forward end and a rearward end;

the divider includes a divider wall and a divider floor, the divider wall extending upwardly from the divider floor;

a pusher mechanism comprising a biasing device and configured to slide along the divider floor to move a product toward the forward end;

a barrier configured to be positioned proximate the forward end of the divider such that the product positioned on the top surface of the divider floor contacts the barrier when the product moves toward the forward end of the divider;

a low product indicator device comprising a protruding portion, wherein the protruding portion is configured to extend forward of the barrier when an amount of product positioned on the top surface of the divider floor is low;

wherein the low product indicator device is engaged with the pusher such that the low product indicator is configured to slide relative to the divider;

wherein the low product indicator device includes a predetermined stopping point, and wherein low product indicator device is configured to disengage from the pusher at the predetermined stopping point.

17. The merchandise display system of claim 16, wherein the low product indicator device further comprises:

a side wall having a front edge, a back edge and a bottom edge.

18. The merchandise display system of claim 17, wherein the predetermined stopping point is where the front edge of the side wall of the low product indicator device contacts the barrier.

19. A merchandise display system comprising:

a divider configured to be secured to a support structure, wherein the divider includes a forward end and a rearward end;

the divider includes a divider wall and a divider floor, the divider wall extending upwardly from the divider floor;

a pusher mechanism comprising a biasing device and configured to slide along the divider floor to move a product toward the forward end;

a barrier configured to be positioned proximate the forward end of the divider such that the product positioned on the top surface of the divider floor contacts the barrier when the product moves toward the forward end of the divider;

a low product indicator device comprising;

a side wall having a front edge, a back edge and a bottom edge,

a back wall engaged with the side wall at the back edge;

a bottom wall engaged with the side wall at the bottom edge, and

a protruding portion, wherein the protruding portion is configured to extend forward of the barrier when an amount of product positioned on the top surface of the divider floor is low;

wherein the low product indicator device is engaged with the pusher such that the low product indicator is configured to slide relative to the divider;

wherein the low product indicator device includes a predetermined stopping point, and wherein low product indicator device is configured to disengage from the pusher at the predetermined stopping point.

20. The merchandise display system of claim 19, wherein the product indicator device further comprises a magnet, and wherein the magnet is configured to magnetically engage the biasing device of the pusher.