Product securement and management system

• US 9,687,085 B2
• Filed: 08/13/2013
• Issued: 06/27/2017
• 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:
  US13/965,973
• Publication Number:
  US 20130327730A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,414 Days
• Field of Search: 211 593, 211119003, 211 51, 211 541, 211 592, 211 74, 211184, 211 4, 221124, 221129, 221131, 221132, 221245, 221275, 221278, 221279, 221226, 221227, 221235, 312115, 312222, 3121404, 312327, 312328, 70159-162, 292240, 292194, 292195, 292197, 292198, 292203, 292210, 292304
• 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 front retaining wall for a product display system comprising:

a base configured to operatively mount to a shelf;

a face extending from the base, the face having at least one opening extending therethrough and an arcuate-shaped wall portion formed in the face adjacent the opening and configured to receive a locking tab of a locking mechanism to prevent access to a product on the shelf, wherein the at least one arcuate-shaped wall portion provides a pathway for the locking tab of the locking mechanism to travel along the face adjacent the opening when locking and unlocking the locking mechanism by rotation of the locking mechanism; and

wherein the face is adapted to extend upward from the shelf and is configured to restrain the product and to prevent the product from falling off the front of the shelf.

2. The front retaining wall of claim 1, wherein the base is configured to operatively mount to the shelf via a channel or a rail that extends along the shelf.

3. The front retaining wall of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the face is formed of a clear material, an opaque semi-transparent material, a wire material, or combination thereof to permit visualization of the product.

4. The front retaining wall of claim 1, wherein the face contains graphics thereon.

5. The front retaining wall of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of holes extending along the face.

6. The front retaining wall of claim 5, wherein the plurality of holes extending along the face is formed in a repeating pattern.

7. The front retaining wall of claim 5, wherein the plurality of holes extend through the face and are spaced along the face, and are configured to permit a person to push the product back away from the retaining wall for insertion and removal of the product.

8. The front retaining wall of claim 1, wherein the face comprises one of a rectangular or an oblong shape.

9. A display and movable barrier system comprising:

a locking mechanism having a locking tab;

a front retaining wall for a product display system comprising;

a base configured to operatively mount to a shelf;

a face extending from the base, the face having at least one opening extending therethrough and an arcuate-shaped wall portion formed in the face adjacent the opening and configured to receive a locking tab of the locking mechanism to prevent access to a product on the shelf, wherein the at least one arcuate-shaped wall portion providing a pathway for the locking tab of the locking mechanism to travel along the face adjacent the opening when locking and unlocking the locking mechanism by rotation of the locking mechanism; and

wherein the face is adapted to extend upward from the shelf and is configured to restrain the product and to prevent the product from falling off the front of the shelf;

a movable barrier having a hole, wherein the opening of the face intersects the hole of the movable barrier, wherein the at least one arcuate-shaped wall portion on the face is configured to fit and engage the locking tab of the locking mechanism to secure the movable barrier by permitting the locking tab to be securely held in place in the arcuate-shaped wall portion to lock the movable barrier in a closed position over the front retaining wall to prevent access to the product.

10. The display and movable barrier system of claim 9, wherein the locking mechanism is configured to be accessed by a mechanism selected from the group consisting of:

a key, a tool, access card, electronic, magnetic, wireless device, or combination thereof to open the locking mechanism.

11. The display and movable barrier system of claim 9 wherein when the locking mechanism is located in the arcuate-shaped wall portion the barrier is locked to the face and when the locking mechanism is not located in the arcuate-shaped wall portion the barrier is unlocked relative to the face.

12. The display and movable barrier system of claim 9 wherein the tab defines a radius and wherein the arcuate shape is configured to conform to the radius of the tab.