Product securement and management system

• US 8,047,385 B2
• Filed: 08/31/2010
• Issued: 11/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RTC Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: RTC Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Hardy, Stephen N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Novosad; Jennifer E.
• Application Number:
  US12/872,721
• Publication Number:
  US 20110094975A1
• Time in Patent Office: 427 Days
• Field of Search: 211/189, 211/134, 211/183, 211/4, 211/150, 211/8, 211/9, 211/59.2, 211/59.3, 211/184, 211/187, 211/119.003, 312/138.1, 312/215, 312/222, 312/35, 312/117, 221 2- 6, 700/237, 700/240, 700/244, 70 85- 88
• US Class Current: 211/59.3
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 57/585 with connection means slidable in a rail
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 57/586 with connection means movable by sliding on the outside of a rail
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 65/15 Partitions, e.g. dividers
• 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 87/0269 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 1/12 dispensing from the side of an approximately horizontal stack A47F1/087 takes precedence
• 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 3/002 Devices for protection against sunlight or theft
• 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 7/0007 for stacked articles; Stabilising means therefor for cans or bottles A47F7/281
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 7/28 for containers, e.g. flasks, bottles , tins, milk packs racks or containers with dispensing arrangements A47F1/04; for lipsticks or markers A47F7/0021; for audio/video cassettes or booklike articles A47F7/14
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 7/281 for vertically-stacked containers; Stabilising means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B42F 7/12 Stacked trays
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 73/00 : Devices for locking portable objects against unauthorised removal; Miscellaneous locking devices motorcycle helmets A42B3/0413; supporting arrangements specially adapted for fastening helmets B62J11/24; gun racks A47B81/005; showcases with theft protection A47F3/002; anti-theft means for peg-boards, grids or rods for hanging merchandise A47F5/0861; show stands, hangers, shelves with provision against unauthorised removal A47F7/024; for self-service hand-carts A47F10/04; locking skis A63C11/004; locking bolts, nuts or pins F16B41/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 : Assembling or joining

Abstract

A merchandising system that improves the merchandising of product by limiting the number and the frequency with which product can be removed from, for example, a merchandising shelf. The merchandising system may include a base configured to support product and a housing configured to engage the base. The housing may comprise a top wall, a first side wall, a second side wall, and a front retaining wall. The system may further include a spring-urged pusher movably mounted on the base, a locking assembly, and an electronic control unit the triggers the locking assembly, locking the door from opening and stopping the pusher from moving product forward to the door.

Claims

1. A merchandising system, comprising:

a base configured to support product;

a housing configured to be engaged with the base, comprising a top wall, a first side wall, and a second side wall;

a spring-urged pusher movably mounted on the base;

a rotatable door assembly that includes a door configured to hold one product, wherein the door moves from a closed position to an open position;

a locking assembly that comprises a locking bar mounted to the base, wherein the locking bar moves from an extended position and an unextended position, and when the locking bar is in the extended position, the locking bar locks the door assembly and the spring-urged pusher; and

an electronic control unit that triggers a lock-out mechanism engaged to the locking bar to move the locking bar from the unextended position to the extended position.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the electronic control unit triggers the lock-out mechanism when a preset number of products are removed in a preset time limit.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the preset number of products equal three.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the preset time limit equals ten minutes.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the locking assembly further comprises a locking latch that engages the locking bar when the locking bar is in the extended position.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the locking assembly further comprises a locking gear that includes a free end and a gear teeth end.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein a door spring is attached to the door and the free end of the locking gear.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein when the locking bar is in the extended position, the locking latch engages the gear teeth end of the locking gear which prohibits the uncoiling of the door spring and the door moving to the open position.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the locking assembly further comprises a ratchet shaft that is located in a slot on the base, wherein the slot extends longitudinally along the length of the base.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the ratchet shaft includes at least one section that has a plurality of teeth extending along the longitudinal axis of the shaft and at least one section that is flat that extends along the longitudinal axis of the shaft.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the locking mechanism includes a pusher lock that is attached to the spring-urged pusher.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein when the locking bar is in the extended position, the ratchet shaft rotates such that the plurality of teeth face upwards towards the pusher lock and a pointed end of the pusher lock engages one of the plurality of teeth to prohibit the movement of the pusher.