Product management display system

• US 9,265,362 B2
• Filed: 06/09/2014
• Issued: 02/23/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: RTC Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: RTC Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Hardy, Stephen N.
• Primary Examiner(s): RODDEN, JOSHUA E
• Application Number:
  US14/299,695
• Publication Number:
  US 20140284290A1
• Time in Patent Office: 624 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 57/585 with connection means slidable in a rail
• 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 5/005 Partitions therefore horizontally adjustable A47B57/58; constructional details of drawers A47B88/90

Abstract

A merchandise display system having a pusher structure slidably-coupled to a track. The pusher structure comprises a lock arm configured to selectively engage with a ratchet rack to allow for selective unidirectional motion of the pusher structure upon application of a manual force to a pusher face of the pusher structure. Further, selective disengagement of the ratchet rack from the lock arm is facilitated by a manually-actuated pull strip having a ramp structure that slidably engages with the lock arm to lift a pawl out of the ratchet rack. This selective disengagement allows for bidirectional sliding of the pusher structure along said track, thereby allowing displayed products to be moved towards a front of a display shelf, or for products to be reloaded into the merchandise display system.

Claims

1. A merchandise display system comprising:

a pusher structure having a pusher face and a pusher carriage, the pusher carriage slidably-coupled to a linear track,

the linear track comprising a longitudinal length with a first end and a second end, a ratchet rack extending along the longitudinal length of the linear track, said ratchet rack having a plurality of ratchet teeth;

a lock arm, pivotably-coupled to the pusher structure at a first end, and having a pawl at a second end configured to engage with the ratchet rack between a selected two of the plurality of ratchet teeth; and

a pull strip configured to slide within a channel on the linear track, the pull strip having a first end configured for manual actuation, and a second end having a ramp configured to slidably engage with a tab on the lock arm, wherein upon actuation of the pull strip, the ramp slidably engages with the tab to disengage the pawl from the ratchet rack.

2. The merchandise display system of claim 1, wherein the second end of the pull strip further comprises a backstop, and wherein upon application of a manual force to the first end of the pull strip in a direction towards the first end of the track, the ramp slidably engages with the tab to disengage the pawl from the ratchet rack, and the backstop engages with the lock arm to urge the pusher structure to slide towards the first end of the track.

3. The merchandise display system of claim 1, wherein upon slidable engagement between the ramp and the tab to disengage the pawl from the ratchet rack, application of a manual force to the pusher face in a direction towards the second end of the track urges the pusher structure to slide towards the second end of the track.

4. The merchandise display system of claim 3, wherein while sliding towards the second end of the track, engagement between the pusher structure and a backstop urges the pull strip to retract into the channel in a direction towards the second end of the track.

5. The merchandise display system of claim 1, wherein while the pawl is engaged with the ratchet rack, upon application of a first manual force to the pusher face, the pusher structure is urged to slide towards the first end of the track, and upon application of a second manual force, in a direction opposite the first manual force, to the pusher face, the pusher structure is prevented from sliding towards the second end of the track.

6. The merchandise display system of claim 1, wherein the second end of the pull strip further comprises an overhang, configured to prevent the second end of the lock arm from pivoting beyond a pivot height limit upon slidable engagement between the tab and the ramp.

7. The merchandise display system of claim 1, further comprising:

a pusher alignment rail, configured to be received into an alignment shoe on the pusher carriage to maintain proper alignment of the pusher structure as it slides along the linear track.

8. The merchandise display system of claim 1, further comprising:

a front rail, removably coupled to the linear track, the front rail having a longitudinal length substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal length of the linear track.

9. The merchandise display system of claim 8, wherein the front rail is rigidly coupled to a surface at an edge of a display shelf.

10. The merchandise display system of claim 1, wherein the pusher face is configured to exert a force on a unit of merchandise, urging said unit of merchandise towards the first end of the linear track.

11. The merchandise display system of claim 10, wherein the unit of merchandise is configured to slide along a sliding surface of the linear track while being urged towards the first end of the linear track.

12. The merchandise display system of claim 1, further comprising:

a barrier structure, rigidly coupled to the first end of the linear track.

13. The merchandise display system of claim 1, further comprising a divider.

14. A merchandise display system comprising:

a pusher structure having a pusher face and a pusher carriage, the pusher carriage slidably-coupled to a linear track, the linear track having a longitudinal length with a first end and a second end, and further comprising;

a rack gear along the longitudinal length of the linear track, said rack gear having a plurality of gear teeth;

a lock arm, pivotably-coupled to the pusher structure at a first end, and having a catch at a second end configured to engage at least one of the plurality of gear teeth; and

a pull strip configured to slide within a channel on the linear track, the pull strip having a first end configured for manual actuation, and a second end having a ramp configured to slidably engage with a tab on the lock arm, wherein upon actuation of the pull strip, the ramp slidably engages with the tab to disengage the catch from the gear rack.

15. The merchandise display system of claim 14, wherein the second end of the pull strip further comprises a backstop, and wherein upon application of a manual force to the first end of the pull strip in a direction towards the first end of the track, the ramp slidably engages with the tab to disengage the catch from the rack gear, and the backstop engages with the lock arm to urge the pusher structure to slide towards the first end of the track.

16. The merchandise display system of claim 14, wherein upon slidable engagement between the ramp and the tab to disengage the catch from the rack gear, application of a manual force to the pusher face in a direction towards the second end of the track urges the pusher structure to slide towards the second end of the track.

17. The merchandise display system of claim 16, wherein while sliding towards the second end of the track, engagement between the pusher structure and a backstop urges the pull strip to retract into the channel in a direction towards the second end of the track.

18. The merchandise display system of claim 14, wherein while the catch is engaged with the rack gear, upon application of a first manual force to the pusher face, the pusher structure is prevented from sliding towards the first end of the track, and upon application of a second manual force, in a direction opposite the first manual force, to the pusher face, the pusher structure is prevented from sliding towards the second end of the track.

19. The merchandise display system of claim 14, wherein the plurality of gear teeth have a square shape.

20. The merchandise display system of claim 14, wherein the plurality of gear teeth have a triangular shape.