Secure merchandising display with tunnel feature

• US 8,910,827 B2
• Filed: 05/08/2012
• Issued: 12/16/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: WestRock Shared Services, LLC (WestRock Company)
• Original Assignee: Rock-Tenn Shared Services, LLC (WestRock Company)
• Inventors: Lockwood, Thomas A.
• Primary Examiner(s): WAGGONER, TIMOTHY R
• Application Number:
  US13/466,580
• Publication Number:
  US 20120285979A1
• Time in Patent Office: 952 Days
• Field of Search: 221/8, 221/14, 221/279, 221/280, 221/260, 700/236
• US Class Current: 221/279
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 1/126 the pushing device being urged by spring means

Abstract

Disclosed is a dispenser for controlling access to product, such as but not limited to bottles, housed within the dispenser. In some embodiments, the dispenser includes an opening having a contour that generally mirrors the shape and/or dimensions of the product stored within the dispenser plus a relatively small amount of clearance and also includes a tunnel within the interior of the device. The configuration of the opening and/or the tunnel feature prevents a user from accessing product stored behind the opening within the dispenser. In some embodiments, the dispenser includes a pusher system that provides a time delay between the dispensing of products into a receiving area.

Claims

1. A dispenser for housing a plurality of bottles, the dispenser comprising:

a front comprising an opening that restricts access to the bottles stored within the dispenser, the opening generally mirroring a shape of the bottles plus a predetermined offset;

sidewalls;

a receiving area adjacent the front of the dispenser and located outside of the opening; and

a tunnel formed within an interior of the dispenser that generally conforms to the shape of the bottles.

2. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein a shape and dimensions of at least a portion of the receiving area generally conforms to the shape and dimensions of the bottles plus an offset.

3. The dispenser of claim 1, further comprising an actuator for actuating the dispensing of one of the plurality of bottles.

4. The dispenser of claim 1, further comprising a pusher system that advances the bottles housed within the dispenser toward the front of the dispenser.

5. The dispenser of claim 4, wherein the pusher system comprises a track, a pusher in sliding engagement with the track, a spring that urges the pusher along the track, and a resistance mechanism that slows a speed at which the pusher advances the bottles.

6. The dispenser of claim 4, wherein the sidewalls abut one another to define the opening.

7. The dispenser of claim 1, further comprising one or more inserts that generally extend along an interior of the dispenser to accommodate and generally conform to the shape of the plurality of bottles housed within the dispenser.

8. The dispenser of claim 7, wherein the one or more inserts comprises a protrusion that generally extends along the one or more inserts and accommodates a neck of one of the bottles housed within the dispenser.

9. The dispenser of claim 8, wherein the protrusion of the one or more inserts helps form the tunnel within the dispenser by conforming to the shape of the bottles housed within the dispenser.

10. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the opening provides clearance between a contour of the opening and the bottles.

11. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the predetermined offset is generally uniform along the opening.

12. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the opening generally mirrors a shape of the bottles substantially along a height of the bottles.

13. The dispenser of claim 5, wherein the pusher system activates a position sensor to indicate at least one of the following:

(a) removal of a bottle from the dispenser;

(b) the number of bottles removed from the dispenser; and

(c) the number of bottles remaining in the dispenser.

14. A dispenser for housing a plurality of product, the dispenser comprising:

a front comprising an opening that restricts access to the product stored behind the opening within the dispenser, the opening generally mirroring a shape and dimensions of the product plus a predetermined clearance;

sidewalls that abut one another to form the opening;

a tunnel formed within an interior of the dispenser that generally conforms to the shape and the dimensions of the product; and

a pusher system comprising a track, a pusher in sliding engagement with the track, a spring that urges the pusher along the track toward the front of the dispenser, and a resistance mechanism that slows a speed at which the pusher advances the product toward the front of the dispenser.

15. The dispenser of claim 14, further comprising one or more inserts that generally extend along an interior of the dispenser and that form the tunnel.

16. The dispenser of claim 15, wherein the one or more inserts comprises a protrusion that generally extends along the one or more inserts and accommodates a portion of the product housed within the dispenser.

17. The dispenser of claim 14, wherein the opening is dimensioned to receive the product without obstruction.

18. The dispenser of claim 14, further comprising a receiving area adjacent the front of the dispenser and located in front of the opening, wherein a shape of at least a portion of the receiving area generally conforms to the shape of the product.

19. The dispenser of claim 14, wherein the predetermined clearance is generally uniform along the opening.

20. The dispenser of claim 14, wherein the opening generally mirrors a shape and dimensions of the product substantially along a height of the product.

21. The dispenser of claim 14, wherein the pusher system activates a position sensor to indicate at least one of the following:

(a) removal of a product from the dispenser;

(b) the number of product removed from the dispenser; and

(c) the number of product remaining in the dispenser.

22. A dispenser for housing a plurality of items, the dispenser comprising:

a front comprising an opening that restricts access to the items stored within the dispenser, the opening generally mirroring a shape of the items plus a predetermined clearance;

sidewalls;

one or more inserts that generally extend within an interior of the dispenser and form a tunnel that surrounds the items stored within the dispenser;

a receiving area adjacent the front of the dispenser located outside of the tunnel; and

a pusher system comprising a track, a pusher in sliding engagement with the track, a spring that urges the pusher along the track toward the receiving area, and a resistance mechanism that slows a speed at which the pusher advances the items toward the receiving area.

23. The dispenser of claim 22, wherein the predetermined clearance is generally uniform along the opening.

24. The dispenser of claim 22, wherein the opening generally mirrors a shape of the items substantially along a height of the items.

25. The dispenser of claim 22, wherein the pusher system activates a position sensor to indicate at least one of the following:

(a) removal of an item from the dispenser;

(b) the number of items removed from the dispenser; and

(c) the number of items remaining in the dispenser.