Product securement and management system

• US 9,526,351 B2
• Filed: 04/08/2013
• Issued: 12/27/2016
• 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): Vo, Tung
• Assistant Examiner(s): CATTUNGAL, ROWINA J
• Application Number:
  US13/858,574
• Publication Number:
  US 20130193096A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,359 Days
• 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 security shelf system comprising:

a display system including a front retaining wall mounted on a shelf and extending upward from the shelf;

a movable barrier mounted to the display system above the front retaining wall, the movable barrier extending from a mounting above the front retaining wall downward towards the shelf, wherein the barrier is configured to be movable from a closed position that inhibits access to product on the shelf to an open position that permits limited access to product on the shelf, wherein the barrier is configured to permit removal of product from the shelf over the front retaining wall and wherein the movable barrier is configured to overlap at least a portion of the front retaining wall when the movable barrier is in a closed position that inhibits access to the product on the shelf; and

a camera and monitor placed in the vicinity of the display system and wherein the monitor is configured to display the camera image.

2. The security shelf system of claim 1 wherein the monitor is configured to display the camera images to consumers and any potential thief.

3. The security shelf system of claim 1 wherein the monitor is configured to switch from displaying an advertisement to displaying images from the camera.

4. The security shelf system of claim 3 wherein the switch from displaying an advertisement to displaying images from the camera is configured to occur on a periodic basis.

5. The security shelf system of claim 3 wherein the switch from displaying an advertisement to displaying images from the camera is configured to occur when predetermined conditions are met.

6. The security shelf system of claim 5 wherein the predetermined conditions are one or more of lifting of the movable barrier, removal of product, movement of a pusher, or input from a sensor.

7. The security shelf system of claim 1 further comprising at least one product divider positioned on the shelf, the at least one product divider extending rearwardly from the front retaining wall.

8. The security shelf system of claim 7 further comprising a second retaining wall mounted next to the front retaining wall, wherein the second retaining wall inhibits the removal of taller product from the shelf.

9. The system of claim 1 further comprising at least one product urging device positioned on the shelf that pushes product slowly toward the front retaining wall.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the product urging device is a product pusher.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the movable barrier is configured to pivot from the closed position to the open position.

12. A method comprising:

providing a display system including a front retaining wall mounted on a shelf and extending upward from the shelf;

mounting a movable barrier on the display system above the front retaining wall such that the movable barrier extends from a mounting above the front retaining wall and downward towards the shelf, configuring the barrier such that it is movable from a dosed position that inhibits access to product on the shelf to an open position to permit limited access to product on the shelf and to permit removal of product from the shelf over the front retaining wall;

overlapping the movable barrier and at least a portion of the front retaining wall when the movable barrier is in a closed position to inhibit access to the product on the shelf;

placing a camera and monitor in the vicinity of the display system; and

configuring the monitor to display the camera image.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising configuring the monitor to display the camera images to consumers and any potential thief.

14. The method of claim 12 further comprising configuring the monitor to switch from displaying an advertisement to displaying images from the camera.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising configuring the switch from displaying an advertisement to displaying images of the camera to occur on a periodic basis.

16. The method of claim 14 further comprising configuring the switch from displaying an advertisement to displaying images from camera to occur when predetermined conditions are met.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the predetermined condition comprise one or more of lift of the movable barrier, removal of product, movement of a pusher, or input from a sensor.

18. The method of claim 12 further comprising positioning at least one product divider on the shelf and configuring the at least one product divider to extend rearwardly from the front retaining wall.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising providing a second retaining wall mounted next to the front retaining wall and wherein the second retaining wall inhibits the removal of taller product from the shelf.

20. The method claim 19 further comprising providing at least one product urging device positioned on the shelf that pushes product slowly toward the front retaining wall.

21. The method of claim 12 further comprising configuring the movable barrier to pivot from the closed position to the open position.