Product securement and management system

• US 8,210,363 B2
• Filed: 09/23/2011
• Issued: 07/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RTC Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: RTC Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Hardy, Stephen
• Primary Examiner(s): NOVOSAD, JENNIFER ELEANORE
• Application Number:
  US13/241,474
• Publication Number:
  US 20120006772A1
• Time in Patent Office: 284 Days
• Field of Search: 211/134, 211/189, 211/4, 211/59.2, 211/8, 211/9, 211/150, 211/90.02, 211/183, 211/59.3, 211/184, 211/187, 211/119.003, 70D/IG.65, 70D/IG.63, 70/32, 70/56, 312/35, 312/215, 312/216, 312/109, 312/327, 312/328, 312/117, 312/138.1, 221 2- 6
• US Class Current: 211/59.3
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 1/12 dispensing from the side of an approximately horizontal stack A47F1/087 takes precedence
• 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 5/083 Grids; Article supports therefor

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 and a dampener assembly mounted to the spring-urged pusher configured to control the rate of speed at which the spring-urged pusher is urged forward.

Claims

1. A product management and securement system, comprising:

a first shelf and a top wall, the first shelf having a first front edge;

at least one retaining wall positioned adjacent the first front edge and extending toward the top wall, the at least one retaining wall having a height for limiting access to at least a first row of product and a second row of product placed between the first shelf and the top wall;

a first lock mechanism movable between a locked position and an unlocked position;

a second lock mechanism movable between a locked position and an unlocked position;

a first barrier mounted to a front edge of the top wall above the first shelf; and

a second barrier mounted to the front edge of the top wall above the first shelf,

wherein the first lock mechanism is associated with at least the first barrier, and

wherein the second lock mechanism is associated with at least the second barrier and the second lock mechanism is independent from the first lock mechanism, and

wherein the first barrier is configured to substantially obstruct access to at least the first row of product placed between the first shelf and the top wall when the first barrier is in a closed position, and

wherein the first barrier is prevented from moving between an open position and the closed position when the first lock mechanism is in the locked position, and

wherein the second barrier is configured to substantially obstruct access to at least the second row of product placed between the first shelf and the top wall when the second barrier is in a closed position, and

wherein the second barrier is prevented from moving between an open position and the closed position when the second lock mechanism is in the locked position, and

wherein the first barrier extends over at least the first row of product, and

wherein the second barrier extends over at least the second row of product.

2. The product management and securement system of claim 1, wherein the first barrier overlaps the at least one retaining wall in the closed position.

3. The product management and securement system of claim 1, wherein the first lock mechanism comprises a nose.

4. The product management and securement system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of vertical dividers mounted to the first shelf and positioned between the first shelf and the top wall and a plurality of product urging devices operatively connected to the first shelf for urging product toward a front of the system.

5. The product management and securement system of claim 4, wherein the plurality of vertical dividers are configured to separate product positioned between the first shelf and top wall.

6. The product management and securement system of claim 1, wherein product placed between the first shelf and the top wall is positioned behind the first barrier.

7. The product management and securement system of claim 1, wherein the first lock mechanism comprises a lock.

8. The product management and securement system of claim 1, wherein the second lock mechanism comprises a lock.

9. The product management and securement system of claim 1, wherein the second lock mechanism comprises a nose.

10. The product management and securement system of claim 1, wherein the first lock mechanism defines a surface.

11. The product management and securement system of claim 10, wherein the first lock mechanism surface is a back plate.

12. The product management and securement system of claim 1, wherein the second lock mechanism defines a surface.

13. The product management and securement system of claim 12, wherein the second lock mechanism surface is a back plate.