Product securement and management system

• US 7,150,365 B2
• Filed: 05/27/2005
• Issued: 12/19/2006
• 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, Swafford, John, Syvuk, Max
• Primary Examiner(s): NOVOSAD, JENNIFER ELEANORE
• Application Number:
  US11/140,023
• Publication Number:
  US 20050269279A1
• Time in Patent Office: 571 Days
• Field of Search: 211/4, 211/8, 211/9, 211/183, 211/59.2, 211/189, 211/184, 211/187, 211/119.003, 312/215
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 25/04 of buildings

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. In yet another embodiment, lock mechanisms may be used to further secure high-risk theft items. Also, clips or clip members may be incorporated to further secure the product dividers to the shelves. In addition, an adjustable power bar may be included that is adjustable to accommodate the height adjustments made to the shelves.

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 wall located between the first and second shelf,

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 and including at least one mounting opening for the mounting of at least one lock mechanism, and

a barrier mounted to the second shelf and extending toward the first shelf, the barrier being selectively locked to the retaining wall through the use of the at least one lock mechanism.

2. The product management and securement system of claim 1 wherein the barrier is operatively connected to an alert device.

3. The product management and securement system of claim 2 wherein the 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.

4. The product management and securement system of claim 1 wherein the lock mechanism includes an oval-shaped lock and wherein the at least one mounting opening is oval-shaped.

5. The product management and securement system of claim 1 further comprising a lock plate selectively mounted to the at least one mounting opening.

6. The product management and securement system of claim 5 wherein the lock plate defines a nose portion and a back plate portion.

7. The product management and securement system of claim 6 wherein the nose portion further defines a notch.

8. The product management and securement system of claim 7 wherein the nose portion further defines a hole for receiving a lock.

9. The product management and securement system of claim 8 wherein the back plate portion is positioned on one side of the retaining wall and the nose portion extends through the at least one mounting opening.

10. The product management and securement system of claim 1 further comprising a selectively movable power bar.