Product securement and management system

• US 9,167,913 B2
• Filed: 10/04/2013
• Issued: 10/27/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RTC Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: RTC Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Hardy, Stephen N.
• Primary Examiner(s): NOVOSAD, JENNIFER ELEANORE
• Application Number:
  US14/046,385
• Publication Number:
  US 20140034592A1
• Time in Patent Office: 753 Days
• Field of Search: 211/59.3, 211/119.003, 211/51, 211/54.1, 211/59.2, 211/74, 211/184, 221/124, 221/129, 221/131, 221/132, 221/245, 221/275, 221/278, 221/279, 221/226, 221/227, 221/235
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 57/585 with connection means slidable in a rail
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 57/586 with connection means movable by sliding on the outside of a rail
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 65/15 Partitions, e.g. dividers
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 73/006 with modular arrangements of identical units
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 87/0223 Shelves stackable by means of poles or tubular members as distance-holders therebetween
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 87/0269 without separate distance holders
• 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 1/125 with an article-pushing device
• 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 3/02 with dispensing arrangements A47F1/04 takes precedence; for cigars or cigarettes A24F15/04; for cigarette papers A24F17/00; for hand towels or toilet paper A47K; for photographic paper G03B; coin-freed G07F
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 3/14 Display trays or containers combined with racks A47F5/0025; tray partitions A47F5/005; as racks and transportable with merchandise A47F5/108; made of cardboard A47F5/11; stackable A47B87/02; packing boxes used subsequently as display trays B65D
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 5/0025 having separate display containers or trays on shelves or on racks
• 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 7/0007 for stacked articles; Stabilising means therefor for cans or bottles A47F7/281
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 7/28 for containers, e.g. flasks, bottles , tins, milk packs racks or containers with dispensing arrangements A47F1/04; for lipsticks or markers A47F7/0021; for audio/video cassettes or booklike articles A47F7/14
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 7/281 for vertically-stacked containers; Stabilising means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B42F 7/12 Stacked trays
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 73/00 : Devices for locking portable objects against unauthorised removal; Miscellaneous locking devices motorcycle helmets A42B3/0413; supporting arrangements specially adapted for fastening helmets B62J11/24; gun racks A47B81/005; showcases with theft protection A47F3/002; anti-theft means for peg-boards, grids or rods for hanging merchandise A47F5/0861; show stands, hangers, shelves with provision against unauthorised removal A47F7/024; for self-service hand-carts A47F10/04; locking skis A63C11/004; locking bolts, nuts or pins F16B41/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 : Assembling or joining

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 mounted to the base at an angle. The system may further include a spring-urged pusher movably mounted on the base. The system may further include an opening defined by the first side wall and the front retaining wall through which product may be removed.

Claims

1. A merchandising system comprising:

a base configured to support product, the base comprising a track, a rack aperture and a rack, the rack defining a plurality of teeth;

a pusher configured to movably mount on the base comprising a pusher paddle, a coiled spring for urging the pusher forward, the coiled spring configured to coil about a first axis and the pusher configured to slidably mount to the base in the track;

a dampener assembly configured to mount to the pusher and configured to control the rate of speed at which the spring-urged pusher is urged forward, the dampener assembly comprising a gear rotating about a second axis the gear configured to engage the plurality of teeth of the rack; and

wherein the second axis of the gear is oriented perpendicular to the first axis of the coiled spring and, wherein the coiled spring when in the extended position is configured to align with and extend into the rack aperture.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the dampener assembly further comprises a gear housing comprising a dampening fluid, wherein as product is removed from the base, and the pusher is urged forward by the coiled spring, the gear assembly acts to slow the rate at which the pusher is urged forward.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the rotation of the gear is regulated by the dampening fluid located in the gear housing which acts to resist movement of the gear within the gear housing.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the rack extends sideways in the rack aperture to engage the gear.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of teeth of the rack extend in a plane located underneath the pusher paddle.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the gear extends parallel to the coiled spring when the coiled spring is in an extended position.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the pusher paddle defines a first plane and the base defines a second plane and wherein the first plane is not perpendicular to the second plane.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the dampener assembly further comprises a housing and the gear is located partially within the housing.

9. A merchandising system comprising:

a base configured to support product, the base having a track, a rack aperture and a rack defining a plurality of teeth;

a pusher configured to movably mount on the base and configured to slide along the track, the pusher comprising a coiled spring for urging the pusher forward along the track; and

a dampened gear assembly configured to mount to the pusher, the dampened gear assembly comprising a gear and a gear housing filled with dampening fluid, the gear configured to rotate about a second axis oriented vertically;

wherein the gear is configured to engage the plurality of teeth on the rack to control the rate of speed at which the pusher is urged forward and wherein the coiled spring when in the extended position is configured to align with and extend into the rack aperture.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the rack extends sideways in the rack aperture to engage the gear.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein the gear extends parallel to the coiled spring when the coiled spring is in an extended position.

12. The system of claim 9 wherein the rotation of the gear is regulated by the dampening fluid located in the gear housing which acts to resist movement of the gear within the gear housing.

13. The system of claim 9 wherein the plurality of teeth of the rack extend in a plane located underneath the pusher paddle.

14. The merchandising system of claim 9 wherein the pusher comprises a pusher paddle which defines a first plane, and the base defines a second plane and wherein the first plane is not perpendicular to the second plane.

15. The merchandising system of claim 9 wherein the track extends between a first edge and a second edge of the base.

16. A method comprising:

providing a housing with a top wall, a first side wall and an opposing side wall;

providing a base for supporting of product, providing the base with a track, a rack aperture, and a rack, and mounting the housing to the base,

mounting a pusher on the base and configuring the pusher to slidably mount to the base in the track;

mounting a coiled spring onto the pusher;

mounting a dampened gear assembly onto the pusher, providing the dampened gear assembly with a gear and a gear housing, the gear having a pivot rotating about a second axis,

orienting the second axis vertically; and

configuring the gear to engage the plurality of teeth on the rack to control the rate of speed at which the pusher is urged forward and configuring the coiled spring when in the extended position to align with and extend into the rack aperture.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising positioning the gear such that the gear extends parallel to the coiled spring when the coiled spring is in the extended position.

18. The method of claim 16 further comprising regulating the rotation of the gear by dampening fluid located in the gear housing to cause the gear to resist movement within the gear housing.

19. The method of claim 16 further comprising orienting the rack to extend sideways in the rack aperture to engage the gear.

20. The method of claim 16 further comprising filling the gear housing with dampening fluid.