Merchandise security system

• US 8,973,765 B2
• Filed: 11/26/2013
• Issued: 03/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fasteners for Retail Incorporated (FFR DSI Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Fasteners for Retail Incorporated (FFR DSI Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Wamsley, Stephen D., Gray, Robert, Mueller, Paul A., Kump, Daniel J., Taylor, Curtis, Rataiczak, James J. III
• Primary Examiner(s): Michener, Joshua J
• Assistant Examiner(s): BARNETT, DEVIN K
• Application Number:
  US14/090,682
• Publication Number:
  US 20140083961A1
• Time in Patent Office: 469 Days
• Field of Search: 211/59.2, 211/59.3, 211/59.4, 211/119.003, 312/35, 312/61, 312/71, 312/137, 108/61
• US Class Current: 211/59.2
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 57/58 with means for adjusting partitions horizontally book-ends A47B65/00
• 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 1/126 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 5/005 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 5/0861 Anti-theft means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5009 For portable articles

Abstract

A merchandising system includes a mounting member adapted to be secured to a first associated merchandising structure. A tile is connected to the mounting member. The tile extends away from the mounting member so as to approach a second associated merchandising structure spaced from the first associated merchandising structure. The tile includes a first portion located in a first plane and a protrusion located in a second plane spaced from the first plane. The protrusion is linked to the mounting member. The tile is configured to be movable in relation to the mounting member thereby allowing selective access to a desired portion of at least one of the first and second associated merchandising structures. The connection between the protrusion and the mounting member enables movement of the tile in relation to the mounting member via at least one of pivoting and sliding.

Claims

1. A merchandising system comprising:

an elongated rail adapted to be secured to an associated merchandising structure, said rail comprising first and second longitudinally extending legs spaced apart from each other, said first leg adapted to engage a leading edge of the associated merchandising structure and said second leg disposed in spaced relation to the leading edge of the associated merchandising structure; and

a plurality of tiles slideably mounted to said rail and extending away therefrom, said tiles being supported between said first and second legs of said rail, wherein one less tile is mounted to said rail than a number of columns of associated merchandise supported on a product support surface of said associated merchandising structure so that substantially one column of merchandise is accessible at a time, and any desired column of associated merchandise is accessible by sliding at least one of said plurality tiles along a width of the associated merchandising structure;

wherein each of said tiles includes a front wall and a foot angled in relation to a plane of the front wall;

wherein each tile further includes a top flange and a bottom flange extending away from said foot and defining between them a longitudinally extending slot, wherein said longitudinally extending slot of said tile is interconnected with a longitudinally extending protrusion which is connected to one of said first and second legs of said rail.

2. A merchandising security system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the rail further comprises a clip which engages the associated merchandising structure.

3. A merchandising security system as set forth in claim 2, wherein said clip includes a rear leg and a connecting leg, said rear leg and said rail first leg being angled relative to each other along at least a portion of their respective lengths and, together with the base leg, defining a first channel.

4. A merchandising security system as set forth in claim 3, wherein said rail further includes a base wall connecting said first leg and said second leg, said base wall and said first and second legs defining a second channel.

5. A merchandising security system comprising:

a merchandise display including a first display member;

a rail mounted to said first display member;

a plurality of tiles slideably engaged with said rail, wherein said plurality of tiles extend away from said first display member; and

wherein said rail comprises first and second longitudinally extending and adjacent channels, said first channel receiving a leading edge of the first display member such that said second channel extends in spaced relation to the leading edge of the first display member

wherein each of said tiles includes a front wall and a foot angled in relation to a plane of the front wall;

wherein each foot of said tiles is inserted within the second channel of said rail and slides along a width of said display member in order to selectively allow access to a desired column of associated merchandise stored on said first display member;

wherein first display member includes a front fence which extends upwardly from a top surface of the display member, and said front wall of each of said tiles extends vertically in front of said front fence;

wherein the front fence has a height that is less than a height of the front wall of each of said tiles.

6. A merchandising security system as set forth in claim 5, wherein each tile further includes a top flange and a bottom flange extending away from said foot and defining between them a longitudinally extending slot, and further comprising a longitudinally extending protrusion located in said second channel of said rail, wherein said protrusion extends into said slot.

7. A merchandising security system as set forth in claim 6, wherein the second channel of the rail is defined by a first wall, and said protrusion extends rearwardly from said first wall into said second channel of said rail.

8. A merchandising security system as set forth in claim 5, wherein said rail comprises a clip which includes a rear leg, a front leg and a connecting leg, said rear leg and said front leg being angled relative to each other along at least a portion of their respective lengths and, together with the connecting leg, defining said first channel.

9. A merchandising security system as set forth in claim 8, wherein said rail further includes a first wall oriented generally parallel to said front leg and connected thereto by a base wall, said first wall, said base wall and said front leg defining said second channel.

10. A merchandising structure as set forth in claim 8, wherein said first wall and said front leg are oriented parallel to each other along a portion of their lengths.

11. A merchandising structure as set forth in claim 5, further comprising at least one pusher supported on the first display member and located rearwardly on the first display member in relation to said plurality of tiles.

12. A merchandising security system comprising:

an elongated rail comprising a front wall and a clip for mounting the rail to an associated merchandising structure;

a plurality of tiles slidably mounted to said rail, said plurality of tiles each including a planar foot connected to said rail and a planar front wall extending upwardly away from said rail, wherein each foot is angled in relation to a plane of each of the front walls at an angle greater than 90 degrees;

wherein one less tile is mounted to said rail than a number of columns of associated merchandise held on a support surface of the associated merchandising structure so that substantially one column of merchandise is accessible at a time, and any desired column of merchandise is accessible by sliding at least one of said plurality of tiles along a width of the associated merchandising structure;

wherein a first engaging member is mounted to each tile foot and a second engaging member is mounted to said rail;

wherein one of said first and second engaging members comprises a channel and the another of said first and

second engaging members comprises a protrusion extending into said channel in a slidable manner.

13. The merchandising system of claim 12 wherein said plurality of tiles are disposed in front of a support surface of the associated merchandising structure.

14. The merchandising system of claim 12 wherein said clip comprises a horizontally oriented flange disposed beneath the support surface of the associated merchandising structure.

15. The merchandising system of claim 14 wherein said clip further comprises a rear leg, a connecting leg and a front leg and wherein said flange extends away from said rear leg.