Product management display system

• US 7,497,342 B2
• Filed: 10/25/2005
• Issued: 03/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RTC Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: RTC Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Hardy, Stephen N.
• Primary Examiner(s): NOVOSAD, JENNIFER ELEANORE
• Application Number:
  US11/257,718
• Publication Number:
  US 20060021957A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,225 Days
• Field of Search: 211/59.3, 211/162, 211/151, 211/184, 211/59.2, 211/51, 193/35.R, 193/37, 193/35.B, 221/226, 221/227, 221/270, 414/276, 414/331.08, 414/331.16, 312/61, 312/71, 312/91, 312/97
• US Class Current: 211/59.3
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 1/126 the pushing device being urged by spring means

Abstract

A product management display system for merchandising both larger and heavier products includes using a pusher mechanism along with one or more roller assemblies that, in combination, improve the merchandising of products on the shelves, especially on horizontal or non-inclined shelves or surfaces. In an exemplary embodiment, the product management display system includes a pusher mechanism mounted to a track that extends generally from the front of the shelf to the back of the shelf. The pusher mechanism is configured to urge product forward and toward the front of the shelf. At least one roller assembly is positioned beneath the product to be merchandised to assist the pusher mechanism in urging the product toward the front of the shelf.

Claims

1. A product management display system, comprising:

a pusher mechanism mountable to at least one track which is operatively coupled to a rail, the pusher mechanism including a pusher surface and at least one biasing element, the pusher mechanism movable along the at least one track,

at least one roller assembly operatively coupled to the rail and positioned spaced-apart from the at least one track, the roller assembly including a plurality of rollers, and

a divider operatively attached to the at least one roller assembly, for dividing displayed merchandise into rows.

2. The product management display system of claim 1, wherein the pusher surface is mounted to a pusher base.

3. The product management display system of claim 2, wherein the pusher base includes at least one track mounting member for mounting the pusher base to the at least one track.

4. The product management display system of claim 3, wherein the at least one track is formed in a base, and wherein the base is mountable to a rail.

5. The product management display system of claim 4, wherein the at least one roller assembly is positioned adjacent to the base.

6. The product management display system of claim 3, wherein the at least one track defines at least one rail and an elongated aperture for receiving the at least one track mounting member of the pusher base.

7. The product management display system of claim 6, further comprising support ribs positioned below the track.

8. The product management display system of claim 2, wherein the pusher base is operatively coupled to the at least one biasing element.

9. The product management display system of claim 2, further comprising a plunger mounted to the pusher base.

10. The product management display system of claim 9, wherein the at least one track is formed in a base, and wherein the base defines elongated slots for receiving the plunger.

11. The product management display system of claim 1, wherein the roller assembly further comprises a plurality of aligned rollers mounted to a roller base.

12. The product management display system of claim 1, wherein the biasing element is a coiled spring.

13. The product management display system of claim 1, wherein the divider is positioned adjacent to the at least one roller assembly.

14. A product management display system, comprising:

a base operatively coupled to a rail, the base including at least one track,

a pusher mounted to the track of the base, the pusher movable along the track, the pusher operatively coupled to a biasing element,

at least one roller assembly operatively coupled to the rail, the roller assembly including a plurality of spaced-apart rollers mounted to a roller housing, and

a divider operatively attached to the at least one roller assembly for dividing displayed merchandise into rows.

15. The product management display system of claim 14, wherein the pusher includes a pusher surface mounted to a pusher base.

16. The product management display system of claim 15, wherein the pusher base includes at least one flange for mounting the pusher base to the at least one track.

17. The product management display system of claim 16, wherein the biasing element is operatively coupled to the base.

18. The product management display system of claim 17, wherein the biasing element is a coiled spring.

19. The product management display system of claim 16, further comprising a plunger mounted to the pusher base.

20. The product management display system of claim 19, wherein the base defines elongated slots for receiving the plunger.

21. The product management display system of claim 19, wherein the base defines at least one slot for receiving the plunger.

22. The product management display system of claim 16, wherein the track defines at least one track rail and an elongated aperture for receiving the at least one flange of the pusher base.

23. The product management display system of claim 22, further comprising support ribs positioned below the track.

24. The product management display system of claim 14, wherein the at least one roller assembly is positioned adjacent to the base.

25. The product management display system of claim 14, wherein the at least one roller assembly is two roller assemblies positioned on opposing sides of the base.

26. The product management display system of claim 14, wherein the base and roller assembly are slidable along the rail.

27. A product management display system, comprising:

a base operatively coupled to a rail, the base including two tracks,

a pusher mounted to the tracks, the pusher movable along the tracks,

a coiled spring operatively coupled to the base and the pusher, and

at least one roller assembly operatively coupled to the rail and positioned spaced-apart from the base, the roller assembly including a plurality of spaced-apart rollers mounted to a roller housing.

28. The product management display system of claim 27 further comprising a divider operatively attached to the at least one roller assembly for dividing displayed merchandise into rows.

29. The product management display system of claim 27, wherein the pusher includes a pusher surface mounted to a pusher base.

30. The product management display system of claim 29, wherein the pusher base includes flanges for mounting the pusher base to the tracks.

31. The product management display system of claim 30, wherein the at least one roller assembly is two roller assemblies positioned on opposing sides of the base.

32. The product management display system of claim 31, wherein the base is slidably mounted to the rail.

33. The product management display system of claim 32, wherein each of the tracks defines at least one rail and an elongated aperture for receiving one of the flanges of the pusher base.

34. The product management display system of claim 33, further comprising support ribs positioned below each of the tracks.

35. The product management display system of claim 29, further comprising a plunger mounted to the pusher base.