Product management display system with trackless pusher mechanism

• US 8,967,394 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Issued: 03/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RTC Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: RTC Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Hardy, Stephen N., Barenbrugge, Joel
• Primary Examiner(s): NOVOSAD, JENNIFER ELEANORE
• Application Number:
  US13/833,500
• Publication Number:
  US 20130200019A1
• Time in Patent Office: 718 Days
• Field of Search: 269/43, 269/246, 211/42, 211/43, 211/59.2, 211/59.3, 211/184, 211/175, 248/448, 248/441.1, 221/279, 312/35, 312/61, 312/71
• US Class Current: 211/59.3
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 45/00 Cabinets, racks or shelf units, characterised by features enabling enlarging in height, length, or depth sectional furniture A47B87/00
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 57/585 with connection means slidable in a rail
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 65/15 Partitions, e.g. dividers
• 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 1/125 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
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 7/0007 for stacked articles; Stabilising means therefor for cans or bottles A47F7/281
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 7/144 the show stands or the like being provided with trays, shelves or adjustable partitioning means therefor

Abstract

A product management display system for merchandising product on a shelf includes using a trackless pusher mechanism that travels along a surface on which product is placed and one or more dividers for separating product into rows. The one or more dividers may be engaged to a front rail in two different conditions, locked and unlocked. In a locked condition, the relationship between the divider and the front rail resists alteration in any direction with respect to each other. In the unlocked condition, the dividers may be freely slid laterally along the front rail, while remaining perpendicular to the front rail. The one or more dividers may lock to the front rail through the use of corresponding teeth, resilient surfaces, a locking tab, a locking bar and/or a cam.

Claims

1. A pusher mechanism for merchandising product on a shelf comprising:

a first pusher section;

a second pusher section, wherein the first pusher section and the second pusher section are configured to together advance; and

wherein one of the first pusher section and the second pusher section includes a projection and the other of the first pusher section and the second pusher section includes a corresponding recess to receive the projection of the other pusher section;

wherein the first pusher section and the second pusher section are adjustable relative to each other to accommodate product;

wherein one of the first pusher section and the second pusher section includes a toothed rack and the other of the first pusher section and the second pusher section includes a slot or opening for receiving the toothed rack and a worm gear configured to mesh with the toothed rack and wherein the worm gear is configured to adjust the first pusher section relative to the section pusher section.

2. The pusher mechanism of claim 1 wherein the projection comprises a ribbed portion and the recess comprises a correspondingly shaped portion to receive the ribbed portion therein.

3. The pusher mechanism of claim 1 wherein the first pusher section comprises a first ski and the second pusher section comprises a second ski and wherein the first ski and the second ski are configured to engage guide portions of dividers.

4. A pusher mechanism for merchandising product on a shelf comprising:

a first pusher section;

a second pusher section, wherein the first pusher section and the second pusher section are configured to together advance; and

wherein one of the first pusher section and the second pusher section includes a projection and the other of the first pusher section and the second pusher section includes a corresponding recess to receive the projection of the other pusher section;

wherein the first pusher section and the second pusher section are adjustable relative to each other to accommodate product;

wherein the first pusher section comprises a first ski and the second pusher section comprises a second ski and wherein the first ski and the second ski are configured to engage guide portions of dividers,

wherein the first ski of the first pusher section and the second ski of the second pusher mechanism each comprise a U-shaped portion at one end.

5. A product management display system for merchandising product comprising:

a first divider having a first divider wall, a first divider floor, and a first divider barrier;

a second divider having a second divider wall, a second divider floor, and a second divider barrier;

a pusher mechanism comprising a first pusher section and a second pusher section, and wherein one of the first pusher section and the second pusher section includes a projection and the other of the first pusher section and the second pusher section includes a corresponding recess to receive the projection of the other pusher section;

wherein the first divider floor is configured to receive the first pusher section and the second divider floor is configured to receive the second pusher section and wherein the first pusher section and the second pusher section are adjustable relative to each other and are configured to also adjust the first wall divider and the second divider wall relative to each other to accommodate product therebetween;

wherein one of the first pusher section and the second pusher section includes a toothed rack and the other of the first pusher and the second pusher section includes a slot or opening for receiving the toothed rack and a worm gear configured to mesh with the toothed rack and wherein the worm gear is configured to adjust the first pusher section relative to the section pusher section.

6. The product management display system of claim 5 wherein when the first pusher section and the second pusher section are adjusted, the first divider wall, the first divider floor, and the first divider barrier are each adjusted relative to the second divider wall, the second divider floor, and the second divider barrier.

7. The product management display system of claim 5 wherein the projection comprises a ribbed portion and the recess comprises a correspondingly shaped portion to receive the ribbed portion therein.

8. The product management system of claim 5 wherein the first pusher section comprises a first ski and the second pusher section comprises a second ski and wherein the first ski is configured to engage the first floor and the second ski is configured to engage the second floor.

9. A product management display system for merchandising product comprising:

a first divider having a first divider wall, a first divider floor, a first rear divider barrier having a first guide hole;

a second divider having a second divider wall, a second divider floor, and a second rear divider barrier having a second guide hole;

a pusher mechanism comprising a first pusher section and a second pusher section, and wherein one of the first pusher section and the second pusher section includes a projection and the other of the first pusher section and the second pusher section includes a corresponding recess to receive the projection of the other pusher section;

wherein the first divider floor is configured to receive the first pusher section and the second divider floor is configured to receive the second pusher section and wherein the first pusher section and the second pusher section are adjustable relative to each other and are configured to also adjust the first divider wall and the second divider wall relative to each other to accommodate product therebetween;

wherein the first pusher section comprises a first ski and the second pusher section comprises a second ski and wherein the first ski is configured to engage the first floor and the second ski is configured to engage the second floor;

wherein the first ski of the first pusher section and the second ski of the second pusher mechanism each comprise a U-shaped portion at one end and wherein the U-shaped portions are configured to be positioned through the first guide hole and the second guide hole in the first rear divider barrier and the second rear divider barrier to prevent the first ski and the second ski from becoming disengaged with the dividers.