Product management display system

• US 8,096,427 B2
• Filed: 02/21/2011
• Issued: 01/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: RTC Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: RTC Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Hardy, Stephen N.
• Primary Examiner(s): PUROL, SARAH L
• Application Number:
  US13/031,453
• Publication Number:
  US 20110139736A1
• Time in Patent Office: 330 Days
• Field of Search: 211/59.3, 211/183, 211/43, 211/11, 211/51, 211 59- 3, 108/61, 108/60, 108/108, 312/61, 312/71, 206/817
• US Class Current: 211/59.3
• 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 1/126 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

An integrated “T” assembly combines into a single integrated assembly, a track portion along both sides of a divider. The T assembly may have a wide-base portion, which may include a spring-urged-pusher track, on one side of the divider and a narrow-base portion on the opposite side of the divider. An offset pusher may have an upper portion that is offset, via an angled offset portion, from a lower portion of the pusher. Additional supporting bases, any of which may include spring-urged-pusher tracks and/or a spring-urged pusher, may be used under a wide product. Left and right side finisher components may be paired with T assemblies near the sides of a merchandise-display shelf. The T assembly, base, and/or end finishers may be coupled to a front rail via a complimentary tongue and groove arrangement and/or a non-slidable engagement.

Claims

1. A merchandise-display system comprising:

an integrated base-and-divider assembly, wherein 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, wherein 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 pusher track operatively coupled to the front rail, the pusher track comprising at least one rail with a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein the at least one rail defines at least one notch, the pusher track further comprising at least one projection configured to prevent the pusher track from sliding along the front rail; and

a spring-urged pusher mounted to the pusher track for pushing merchandise toward the front of the shelf, the pusher comprising a pusher face having a top and a bottom, wherein the base-and-divider assembly and pusher track are separate components and each are mounted to the front rail that extends along a front portion of the shelf.

2. The merchandise-display system of claim 1, further comprising a coiled spring defining a first end coupled to the pusher track and a second coiled end positioned behind the pusher.

3. The merchandise-display system of claim 1, wherein the pusher engages the top and bottom surfaces of the at least one rail.

4. The merchandise-display system of claim 1, wherein the base-and-divider assembly is non-slidable relative to the front rail.

5. The merchandise-display system of claim 1, wherein the base portion is configured to support a first portion of a displayed product.

6. The merchandise-display system of claim 5, wherein the pusher track is configured to support a second portion of a displayed product.

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

a second integrated base-and-divider assembly defining a second base portion, and

a second spring-urged pusher mounted to a second pusher track and adapted for operative coupling to the front rail.

8. The merchandise-display system of claim 7, wherein the second base portion of the second base-and-divider assembly supports a second portion of the displayed product.

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

the base portion configured to support a first portion of a displayed product;

a second integrated base-and-divider assembly defining a second base portion, wherein the second base portion of the second base-and-divider assembly supports a second portion of the displayed product; and

a second spring-urged pusher mounted to a second pusher track and adapted for operative coupling to the front rail.

10. The merchandise-display system of claim 1, wherein the base portion is operatively coupled to a shelf via the front rail that is affixed to the shelf.

11. The merchandise-display system of claim 1, wherein the base portion snaps on to the front rail.

12. The merchandise-display system of claim 1, wherein the pusher track snaps on to the front rail.

13. The merchandise-display system of claim 1 further comprising a front barrier designed to deter products from being pushed beyond the front barrier by the spring-urged pusher.

14. A merchandise-display system comprising:

a base and divider assembly comprising a base and a divider, wherein the divider protrudes from the base and separates the base into a first portion and a second portion;

a front rail operatively coupled to a front portion of a shelf, the base and divider assembly mounted to the front rail;

a pusher track comprising at least one rail, the pusher track mounted to the front rail, the pusher track further comprising at least one projection configured to prevent the pusher track from sliding along the front rail;

a spring-urged pusher mounted to the pusher track, the pusher defining a pusher face having a top and a bottom;

a coil spring connected to the pusher track, wherein the base and divider assembly and pusher track are separate components, and

a front barrier designed to deter products from being pushed beyond the front barrier by the spring-urged pusher.

15. The merchandise-display system of claim 14 wherein the pusher track defines a front area and the coil spring defines a front portion and wherein the front end of the coil spring engages the front area of the pusher track.

16. The merchandise-display system of claim 14 wherein the front barrier is connected to a front area of the pusher track.

17. The merchandise-display system of claim 14 further comprising an end component mounted to the shelf.

18. The merchandise-display system of claim 14, wherein the base snaps on to the front rail.

19. The merchandise-display system of claim 14, wherein the pusher track snaps on to the front rail.

20. The merchandise-display system of claim 14, wherein the base-and-divider assembly is non-slidable relative to the front rail.