IP Library Granted Patent US 12,207,729
Granted Patent B2
US 12,207,729 · App. 18/420,498 · Granted Jan 28, 2025

Product divider assembly

Inventors: William H. Walker (Fairlawn, OH); Michael Eric Liedtke (Kent, OH); Shane Obitts (North Ridgeville, OH)
Assignee: Fasteners for Retail, Inc.
A47B57/585A47F5/005A47B65/15A47F1/12
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,207,729
App. No.
18/420,498
Granted
Jan 28, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A retail management system includes a carriage base and an engagement mechanism. The carriage base includes a first end defining a front surface and a second end formed at an opposite end from the first end. The engagement mechanism is disposed at the first end of the carriage base and includes a plurality of carriage teeth extending from the front surface, the plurality of carriage teeth including at least one primary carriage tooth having a first configuration and at least one secondary carriage tooth having a second configuration that is different than the first configuration.

Claims (18)

1. A system comprising:

a divider including a base defining a slot and having a divider wall connected to the base and extending along a first direction, the base defining a cavity and including an engagement mechanism received within the cavity, the engagement mechanism including (i) a resilient member, (ii) a front engagement element disposed at a first end of the resilient member defining a front base surface including a plurality of first teeth extending a first distance from the front base surface, and (iii) a rear engagement element disposed at a second end of the resilient member defining a rear track aligned with the slot; and

a rail including a front wall, a rear wall having a first portion received within the slot of the base and a second portion received within the rear track of the engagement mechanism, and a base cooperating to define a channel extending in a second direction and configured to receive the base of the divider, the front wall including a plurality of second teeth extending a second distance from the front wall and engaged with the first teeth of the divider, the first distance being less than the second distance, and wherein at least one of the first teeth or the second teeth are configured to flex when a force is applied to the divider in the second direction to allow the divider to translate in the second direction along the rail.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the each of the first teeth defines a low-profile relative to the second teeth.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the each of the first teeth defines a first cross-sectional shape extending in the first direction, and wherein the each of the second teeth defines a second cross-sectional shape, different than the first cross-sectional shape, extending in the first direction.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first teeth are formed from a first material having a first coefficient of friction, and the second teeth are formed from a second material having a second coefficient of friction different than the first coefficient of friction.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first teeth are configured to transition from a relaxed state to a flexed state upon application of the force to the divider to allow the divider to translate in the second direction.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the first teeth are configured to transition from the flexed state to the relaxed state to inhibit movement of the divider in the second direction when the force is removed.

7. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a stopper coupled to the base and including a rear surface facing the divider wall and a front surface formed on an opposite side from the rear surface, a first flange attached to the stopper and extending from the front surface in the first direction.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the divider wall extends from the rear surface of the stopper in the first direction.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the second direction is perpendicular to the first direction.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the first flange is aligned with the divider wall of the divider.

11. The system of claim 8 , wherein the stopper includes a bottom end, and wherein the first flange includes a bottom end aligned with the bottom end of the stopper.

12. The system of claim 7 , wherein the stopper includes a first side surface extending from the front surface to the rear surface and a second side surface extending from the front surface to the rear surface opposite the first side surface, the first side surface defining a first recess the second side surface defining a second recess.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the stopper includes a second flange extending in the first direction from the front surface of the stopper along a portion of the first side surface defining the first recess.

14. The system of claim 12 , wherein the stopper includes a second flange extending in the first direction from the front surface of the stopper along a portion of the second side surface defining the second recess, the first flange and the second flange defining a pair of gripping surfaces facing away from each other on opposite sides of the stopper.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein each of the gripping surfaces is concave.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the first recess and the second recess are concave.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 21, 2024
From: WALKER, WILLIAM H.; LIEDTKE, MICHAEL ERIC; OBITTS, SHANE
To: FASTENERS FOR RETAIL, INC.
Reel/Frame 066514/0385 →
Continuity (5)
Continuation 17663178 · May 12, 2022
Continuation In Part 17074706 · Oct 20, 2020
Provisional Application 63036737 · Jun 9, 2020
Provisional Application 62933812 · Nov 11, 2019
Related Publication 20240156254A1 · May 16, 2024
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