Product securement and management system

• US 9,289,078 B2
• Filed: 02/24/2014
• Issued: 03/22/2016
• 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:
  US14/188,359
• Publication Number:
  US 20140175034A1
• Time in Patent Office: 757 Days
• Field of Search: 211/4, 211/59.2, 211/59.3, 211/119.003, 211/150, 211/184, 211/175, 211/195, 211/74, 312/35, 312/61, 312/71, 312/126, 312/128, 312/131, 312/132, 312/137, 108/60, 108/61, 108/71, 108/6, 221/227, 221/255, 221/279, 221/75, 221/76, 221/90, 221/242, 221/226, 221/229, 221/231, 221/232
• 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 product display system, comprising:

a unitary, one-piece base and divider assembly comprising a base and a divider, wherein the divider protrudes upwardly from the base and separates the base into a first portion and a second portion;

a mounting rail, wherein the mounting rail is adapted to be mounted to a shelf, wherein the base and divider assembly is adapted to be coupled to the mounting rail and wherein the base and divider assembly includes a first plurality of teeth adapted to engage a second plurality of teeth defined in the mounting rail;

a pusher track adapted to be coupled to the mounting rail;

a spring-urged pusher adapted to be coupled to the pusher track;

a coil spring adapted to urge the spring-urged pusher forward; and

a barrier, wherein the barrier is adapted to be moveable between an open position and a closed position, wherein the barrier is sized to inhibit access to product positioned on the shelf when the barrier is in the closed position, and wherein the barrier is adapted to facilitate restocking of product on the shelf when the barrier is in the open position, wherein the barrier is adapted to be coupled to the system proximate a front edge of the shelf.

2. The product display system of claim 1, wherein in the closed position the barrier is adapted to inhibit sweeping of product from the shelf.

3. The product display system of claim 1, wherein the barrier is sized to allow a limited number of product to be lifted over the barrier at one time when the barrier is in the closed position.

4. The product display system of claim 1, wherein the barrier comprises a barrier coupling comprising a hinge and wherein the barrier is adapted to rotate between the open position and the closed position.

5. The product display system of claim 1 wherein the pusher track comprises a top surface adapted to support product, an underside surface, and an elongate slot defined in the pusher track.

6. The product display system of claim 5 wherein the pusher track further comprises a plurality of notches defined in the pusher track and wherein the plurality of notches include a pair of opposing notches defined in opposite sides of the elongate slot.

7. The product display system of claim 5 wherein the spring-urged pusher comprises a coupling flange, wherein the coupling flange is configured to couple the spring-urged pusher to the pusher track, and wherein the coupling flange is further adapted to engage the underside surface of the pusher track when the coil spring urges the spring-urged pusher forward.

8. The product display system of claim 7 wherein the elongate slot is defined in the pusher track such that the pusher track includes a first-rail and a second-rail, wherein the first-rail includes a first-rail-top-surface and a first-rail-underside-surface and wherein the second-rail includes a second-rail-top-surface and a second-rail-underside-surface.

9. The product display system of claim 8 wherein the spring-urged pusher comprises a coupling flange extending from an underside of the spring-urged pusher, wherein the coupling flange is adapted to couple the spring-urged pusher to the pusher track, wherein the coupling flange is further adapted to engage the first-rail-underside surface and the second-rail-underside-surface when the coil spring urges the spring-urged pusher forward.

10. The product display system of claim 9 wherein the coupling flange comprises a first flange extension and a second flange extension and wherein the first flange extension is adapted to engage the first-rail-underside-surface when the coil spring urges the spring-urged pusher forward and the second flange extension is adapted to engage the second-rail-underside-surface when the coil spring urges the spring-urged pusher forward.

11. The product display system of claim 10 wherein the pusher track further comprises at least one rib extending between the first-rail and the second-rail and having a first rib end connected to the first-rail and a second rib end connected to the second-rail.

12. The product display system of claim 1 wherein a first end of the coil spring is secured proximate a front end of the pusher track.

13. The product display system of claim 1 wherein the pusher track includes a pusher holder positioned proximate a rear portion of the pusher track, wherein the pusher holder is adapted to hold the pusher in a stationary position proximate the rear portion of the pusher track.

14. The product display system of claim 1 wherein the barrier is positioned proximate a front end of the shelf and extends upwardly from the shelf.

15. A product display system, comprising:

a unitary, one-piece base and divider assembly comprising a base and a divider, wherein the divider protrudes upwardly from the base and separates the base into a first portion and a second portion;

a mounting rail, wherein the mounting rail is adapted to be mounted to a shelf, wherein the base and divider assembly is adapted to be coupled to the mounting rail, wherein the base and divider assembly includes a first plurality of teeth adapted to engage a second plurality of teeth defined in the mounting rail;

a pusher track adapted to be coupled to the mounting rail, wherein the pusher track comprises a pusher-track-top-surface adapted to support product, a pusher-track-underside-surface, and an elongate slot defined in the pusher track such that the pusher track includes a first-side-rail and a second-side-rail;

a spring-urged pusher adapted to be coupled to the pusher track, wherein the spring-urged pusher comprises a coupling flange extending from an underside surface of the spring-urged pusher, and wherein the coupling flange is adapted to couple the spring-urged pusher to the pusher track;

a coil spring adapted to urge the spring-urged pusher forward; and

a barrier positioned proximate a front end of the shelf, wherein the barrier extends upwardly from the shelf, and wherein the barrier is adapted to rotate between a first position and a second position, wherein in the first position the barrier is adapted to inhibit access to product on the shelf, and wherein in the second position the barrier is adapted to facilitate restocking of product on the shelf, and wherein the barrier is adapted to be coupled to the system proximate a front edge of the shelf.

16. The product display system of claim 15 wherein the barrier is adapted to inhibit access to product on the shelf when the barrier is in the first position by comprising a barrier size configured to inhibit sweeping of product from the shelf.

17. The product display system of claim 15 wherein the barrier is adapted to inhibit access to product on the shelf when the barrier is in the first position by comprising a barrier size configured to allow a limited number of product to be lifted over the barrier at one time.

18. A product display system, comprising:

a unitary, one-piece base and divider assembly comprising a base and a divider, wherein the divider protrudes upwardly from the base and separates the base into a first portion and a second portion;

a mounting rail, wherein the mounting rail is adapted to be mounted to a shelf and the base and divider assembly is adapted to be coupled to the mounting rail, wherein the base and divider assembly is adapted to be coupled to the mounting rail, wherein the base and divider assembly includes a first plurality of teeth adapted to engage a second plurality of teeth defined in the mounting rail;

a pusher track adapted to be coupled to the mounting rail, wherein the pusher track comprises a pusher-track-top-surface adapted to support product, a pusher-track-underside-surface, and an elongate slot defined in the pusher track such that the pusher track includes a first-side-rail and a second-side-rail;

a spring-urged pusher adapted to be coupled to the pusher track, wherein the spring-urged pusher comprises a coupling flange extending from an underside surface of the spring-urged pusher, and wherein the coupling flange is adapted to couple the spring-urged pusher to the pusher track and wherein the coupling flange is further adapted to engage the pusher-track-underside-surface when the coil spring urges the spring-urged pusher forward;

a coil spring adapted to urge the spring-urged pusher forward, wherein a first end of the coil spring is secured proximate a front end of the pusher track and a second end of the coil spring is secured to the spring-urged pusher; and

a barrier positioned proximate a front end of the shelf, wherein the barrier extends upwardly from the shelf, wherein the barrier is adapted to rotate between a first position and a second position, and wherein the barrier is adapted to inhibit access to product on the shelf when the barrier is in the first position by comprising a barrier size configured to allow a limited number of product to be lifted over the barrier at one time, and wherein the barrier is adapted to be coupled to the system proximate a front edge of the shelf.

19. The product display system of claim 18 wherein the barrier is configured such that rotation of the barrier from the first position to the second position facilitates restocking of product on the shelf.

20. A merchandise-display system comprising:

an integrated base-and-divider assembly for supporting displayed merchandise, wherein the base-and-divider assembly includes a base portion adapted for operative coupling to a shelf, and a divider portion for dividing displayed merchandise into rows, wherein the divider portion protrudes from the base portion such that the divider portion separates the base portion into a first portion having a pusher track and a second portion, wherein the base-and-divider assembly is non-slidably engaged with a front rail that extends along and is affixed to a front portion of the shelf, wherein the integrated base-and-divider assembly includes a first plurality of teeth adapted to engage a second plurality of teeth defined in the front rail;

a spring-urged pusher in the pusher track for pushing merchandise along the first portion toward the front of the shelf; and

a barrier, wherein the barrier is adapted to be moveable between an open position and a closed position, wherein the barrier is sized to allow a limited number of product to be lifted over the barrier at one time when the barrier is in the closed position, and wherein the barrier is adapted to facilitate restocking of product on the shelf when the barrier is in the open position, wherein the barrier is adapted to be coupled to the system proximate the front portion of the shelf.

21. The merchandise-display system of claim 20, wherein the barrier comprises a barrier coupling comprising a hinge and wherein the barrier is adapted to rotate between the open position and the closed position.

22. The merchandise-display system of claim 20 wherein the pusher track comprises a top surface adapted to support product, an underside surface, and an elongate slot defined in the pusher track.

23. The merchandise-display system of claim 22 wherein the pusher track further comprises a plurality of notches defined in the pusher track and wherein the plurality of notches include a pair of opposing notches defined in opposite sides of the elongate slot.