Secure merchandising display with blocker mechanisms

• US 9,119,488 B2
• Filed: 05/19/2011
• Issued: 09/01/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: WestRock Shared Services, LLC (WestRock Company)
• Original Assignee: Rock-Tenn Shared Services, LLC (WestRock Company)
• Inventors: Lockwood, Thomas A., Miller, Roger K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Crawford, Gene
• Assistant Examiner(s): Randall, Jr., Kelvin L
• Application Number:
  US13/111,235
• Publication Number:
  US 20110315706A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,566 Days
• Field of Search: 221/208, 221/224, 221226-230, 221/232, 221247-249, 221/256, 221/257, 221/263, 221/265, 221/271, 221/276, 221/279
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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: B65D 83/00 Containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents dispensing means incorporated in removable or non-permanently secured container closures B65D47/00; for shops, stores, offices, bars, or the like A47F1/04; showcases or show cabinets with dispensing arrangements A47F3/02; magazines for screws or nuts in combination with spanners, wrenches or screwdrivers B25B23/06; for use in connection with the handling of sheets, webs, or filamentary material B65H
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/42 the articles being delivered by motor-driven means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/002 Vending machines being part of a centrally controlled network of vending machines
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/026 for alarm, monitoring and auditing in vending machines or means for indication, e.g. when empty
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 3/003 Anti-theft control theft alarms G08B13/00

Abstract

A system for controlling advancement of and access to product housed within a device. Systems and devices include a pushing assembly having a track, a pusher, and a stop for restricting forward movement of the pusher when the stop is engaged. The device also includes a door assembly that has an open position and a closed position, an engaging mechanism that engages the stop when the door assembly is in the open position, and a blocker mechanism that restricts consumer access to product located behind the door assembly.

Claims

1. A system for controlling access to product housed within a device, the device comprising:

(a) an interior configured to receive a plurality of product;

(b) a door assembly comprising a top and a bottom and that revolves about its longitudinal axis between an open position and a closed position, wherein the door assembly comprises;

(i) a bottom plate having a circumference and having an engaging mechanism; and

(ii) a cover that extends approximately halfway around the circumference of the bottom plate and that extends generally between the top and the bottom of the door assembly, the cover restricting access to the bottom plate when the door assembly is in the closed position and permitting access to the bottom plate when the door assembly is in the open position and the cover restricting access to the interior of the device when the door assembly is in either the open position or the closed position;

(c) a pushing assembly that comprises;

(i) a pusher comprising a brake, wherein the pusher is in sliding engagement with a track, wherein a front of the track is proximate the bottom plate of the door assembly and wherein the track comprises a resistance channel comprising gear teeth that project into the resistance channel and sides comprising a plurality of ramped slots,

(ii) a spring that urges the pusher toward the front of the track and toward the bottom plate of the door assembly; and

(iii) a stop positioned relative to the pusher and movable between a disengaged position and an engaged position, wherein the pusher is unable to move in a forward direction when the stop is in the engaged position, the stop comprising;

(1) a plurality of protrusions configured to cooperate with the plurality of ramped slots of at least one of the sides of the track and;

(2) a plurality of engagement surfaces configured to engage the brake of the pusher to prevent the pusher from moving forward when the stop is in the engaged position; and

wherein the engaging mechanism of the door assembly is positioned with respect to the stop so that when the door assembly is in the open position, the stop is in the engaged position and when the door assembly is in the closed position, the stop is in the disengaged position.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the bottom plate of the door assembly is circular.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the cover extends along a periphery of the bottom plate from a first point on the periphery to a second point on the periphery, wherein the first and second points are located on opposing sides of the bottom plate.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the cover is made of a transparent or semi-transparent material.

5. The device of claim 1, further comprising a resistance mechanism that slows the speed at which the spring urges the pusher forward.