Product management display system with retaining wall

• US 7,931,156 B2
• Filed: 03/16/2007
• Issued: 04/26/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RTC Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: RTC Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Hardy, Stephen N.
• Primary Examiner(s): PUROL, SARAH L
• Application Number:
  US11/687,356
• Publication Number:
  US 20070175845A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,502 Days
• Field of Search: 211/59.3, 211/184, 211/175, 108/60, 108/61, 221/134, 221/194, 312/42, 312/45
• US Class Current: 211/59.3
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 1/126 the pushing device being urged by spring means
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 5/005 Partitions therefore horizontally adjustable A47B57/58; constructional details of drawers A47B88/90

Abstract

A merchandise display system includes a base-and-divider assembly. The base-and-divider assembly includes a base portion adapted for operative coupling to a front rail, and a divider portion for dividing displayed merchandise into rows. The divider portion protrudes from the base portion such that the divider portion separates the base portion into a first portion and a second portion. A spring-urged pusher is mounted to a pusher track for pushing merchandise toward the front of a shelf. A retaining wall curves inwardly from a front edge of the divider portion along at least a portion of the first portion.

Claims

1. A merchandise display system comprising:

a base-and-divider assembly including a base portion adapted for operative coupling to a front rail, a divider portion for dividing displayed merchandise into rows, and a pusher track, the divider portion protruding from the base portion such that the divider portion separates the base portion into a first portion and a second portion;

a spring-urged pusher mounted to the pusher track for pushing merchandise toward the front of a shelf,

a retaining wall curving inwardly from a front edge of the divider portion along at least a portion of the first portion, and

a front rail having a leg extending outwardly from a rear surface thereof, the arm of the locking clip engaging the leg when the locking clip is in a locked position,

wherein the retaining wall is at least a same height as the divider portion, and

wherein the base portion includes an aperture extending therethrough, and a pair of flanges on a lower surface thereof, and further comprising;

a locking clip slidingly captured between the flanges and the lower surface of the base portion and having;

an arm extending outwardly from a front edge thereof and configured to engage with the front rail; and

a projection on a top surface thereof extending through the aperture in the base portion.

2. The merchandise display system of claim 1, wherein the retaining wall is formed of a transparent material.

3. The merchandise display system of claim 1, wherein the retaining wall extends along an arc of about 90°

.

4. The merchandise display system of claim 1, wherein the retaining wall is secured to the divider portion and the base portion with an adhesive.

5. The merchandise display system of claim 1, wherein the retaining wall is of unitary construction with the divider portion.

6. The merchandise display system of claim 1, further comprising:

a pusher retaining assembly comprising;

a housing secured to the pusher and having an aperture extending therethrough;

a pin extending through the aperture in the housing; and

a biasing member configured to bias the pin upwardly away from the base portion; and

an aperture formed in the base portion, a lower end of the pin being receivable in the aperture.

7. The merchandise display system of claim 6, further comprising a shoulder formed at an upper end of the pin, the biasing member acting against the shoulder to bias the pin upwardly.

8. The merchandise display system of claim 6, wherein the biasing member comprises a spring.

9. The merchandise display system of claim 6, further comprising an annular groove formed in the lower end of the pin, the groove engaging the aperture to retain the pusher in a retracted position.

10. The merchandise display system of claim 6, wherein the housing is positioned on a rear surface of the pusher.

11. The merchandise display system of claim 6, wherein the housing is a cylindrical member.

12. The merchandise display system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of ribs on an underside of the base portion rearward of a front of the base portion.

13. The merchandise display system of claim 12, further comprising a secondary rail having a plurality of projections on a top surface thereof, the projections configured to mesh with the ribs of the base portion.

14. The merchandise display system of claim 13, wherein the projections comprise fins.

15. The merchandise display system of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of additional base-and-divider assemblies, each assembly having a base portion, a divider portion, a pusher track, and a retaining wall, each base portion being mounted to the front rail such that the divider portions are spaced from one another;

a plurality of additional spring-urged pushers, each pusher mounted to one of the pusher tracks for pushing merchandise toward the front of a shelf, and

a plurality of products positioned between adjacent dividing portions.

16. The merchandise display system of claim 15, further comprising:

a plurality of ribs on an underside of the base portion of each base-and-divider assembly rearward of the front of the base portion; and

a secondary rail having a plurality of projections on a top surface thereof, the secondary rail positioned rearwardly of the front rail and beneath the base portions, the ribs engaging the projections.

17. The merchandise display system of claim 16, wherein the projections are fins.

18. The merchandise display of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one first recess and at least one second recess formed on a lower surface of the base portion; and

a lip formed on an upper surface of the locking clip, the lip engaging at least one first recess when the locking clip is in an unlocked position and engaging at least one second recess when the locking clip is in a locked position.

19. The merchandise display system of claim 18, wherein the base portion includes a pair of locking rails on its lower surface, the first and second recesses being formed on the locking rails.

20. A merchandise display system comprising:

a base-and-divider assembly including a base portion adapted for operative coupling to a front rail, a divider portion for dividing displayed merchandise into rows, and a pusher track, the divider portion protruding from the base portion such that the divider portion separates the base portion into a first portion and a second portion;

a spring-urged pusher mounted to the pusher track for pushing merchandise toward the front of a shelf, and

a transparent retaining wall curving inwardly from a front edge of the divider portion along an arc of about 90°

, the transparent retaining wall extending along only a portion of the first portion and defining an opening in the remaining portion of the first portion, wherein the opening is horizontally adjacent the retaining wall.

21. The merchandise display system of claim 20, further comprising:

a pusher retaining assembly comprising;

a housing secured to the pusher and having an aperture extending therethrough;

a pin extending through the aperture in the housing; and

a biasing member configured to bias the pin upwardly away from the base portion; and

an aperture formed in the base portion, a lower end of the pin being receivable in the aperture.

23. The merchandise display system of claim 21, wherein the biasing member comprises a spring.

24. The merchandise display system of claim 21, further comprising an annular groove formed in the lower end of the pin, the groove engaging the aperture to retain the pusher in a retracted position.

25. The merchandise display system of claim 21, wherein the housing is positioned on a rear surface of the pusher.

26. The merchandise display system of claim 20, wherein product is removed from the display system through the opening.

22. A merchandise display system comprising:

a base-and-divider assembly including a base portion adapted for operative coupling to a front rail, a divider portion for dividing displayed merchandise into rows, and a pusher track, the divider portion protruding from the base portion such that the divider portion separates the base portion into a first portion and a second portion;

a spring-urged pusher mounted to the pusher track for pushing merchandise toward the front of a shelf,

a transparent retaining wall curving inwardly from a front edge of the divider portion along an arc of about 90° and

extending along only a portion of the first portion,

a pusher retaining assembly comprising;

a housing secured to the pusher and having an aperture extending therethrough;

a pin extending through the aperture in the housing; and

a biasing member configured to bias the pin upwardly away from the base portion;

an aperture formed in the base portion, a lower end of the pin being receivable in the aperture; and

a shoulder formed at an upper end of the pin, the biasing member acting against the shoulder to bias the pin upwardly.