IP Library › Granted Patent US 9,173,505
Granted Patent B2
US 9,173,505 · App. 14/328,976 · Granted Nov 3, 2015

Product management display system with trackless pusher mechanism

Inventor: Stephen N. Hardy (Wadsworth, OH)
Assignee: RTC Industries, Inc.
A47F5/005A47B57/586A47B65/15A47B73/006A47B87/0223A47B87/0269A47F1/04A47F1/125A47F1/126A47F3/02A47F3/14A47F5/0068A47F7/281A47B57/585B42F7/12Y10T29/49863
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,173,505
App. No.
14/328,976
Granted
Nov 3, 2015
Kind
B2
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 (30)

1. A merchandise display system comprising:

a front rail configured to mount to a shelf;

at least one divider defining a first end and a second end and configured to engage the front rail, the at least one divider further including a divider wall and a divider floor perpendicular to the divider wall, wherein the divider floor is configured to hold product;

a barrier located at the first end of the divider; and

a lock coupled to the divider, wherein the lock is configured to move between a first position and a second position,

wherein the lock inhibits movement of the at least one divider in a lateral direction parallel to the front rail when the lock is in the first position and in engagement with the front rail and the lock allows movement of the divider in a lateral direction parallel to the front rail when the lock is in the second position and disengaged from the front rail.

2. The merchandise display system of claim 1 wherein an engaging portion of the lock is configured to be placed over the front rail.

3. The merchandise display system of claim 2 wherein the engaging portion of the lock is configured to be rotated to snap over the front rail.

4. The merchandise display system of claim 3 wherein the lock is formed in a shape of a T and the engaging portion forms an upper portion of the T.

5. The merchandise display system of claim 1 wherein the front rail further comprises a front rail lip configured to receive the lock over the front rail.

6. The merchandise display system of claim 5 wherein the lock further comprises a lock lip configured to engage the front rail lip to inhibit movement of the at least one divider in a lateral direction parallel to the front rail.

7. The merchandise display system of claim 1 wherein the lock includes a texture.

8. The merchandise display system of claim 1 wherein the lock is formed of rubber.

9. The merchandise display system of claim 1 wherein the lock comprises teeth configured to engage corresponding teeth on the front rail.

10. The merchandise display system of claim 1 further comprising at least one pusher configured to engage a portion of the divider floor.

11. A merchandise display system comprising:

a front rail configured to mount to a shelf;

a floor configured to engage the front rail, the floor configured to hold product;

at least one pusher configured to engage a portion of the floor; and

a lock comprising a cam, wherein the lock is configured to move between a first position and a second position when coupled to the floor,

wherein the lock inhibits movement of the floor in a lateral direction parallel to the front rail when the lock is in the first position and in engagement with the front rail and the lock allows movement of the floor in a lateral direction parallel to the front rail when the lock is in the second position and disengaged from the front rail.

12. The merchandise display system of claim 11 wherein an engaging portion of the lock is configured to be placed over the front rail.

13. The merchandise display system of claim 12 wherein the engaging portion of the lock is configured to be rotated to snap over the front rail.

14. The merchandise display system of claim 13 wherein the lock is formed in a shape of a T and the engaging portion forms an upper portion of the T.

15. The merchandise display system of claim 11 wherein the front rail further comprises a front rail lip configured to receive the lock over the front rail.

16. The merchandise display system of claim 15 wherein the lock further comprises a lock lip configured to engage the front rail lip to inhibit movement of the floor in a lateral direction parallel to the front rail.

17. The merchandise display system of claim 11 wherein the lock includes a texture.

18. The merchandise display system of claim 11 wherein the lock is formed of rubber.

19. The merchandise display system of claim 11 wherein the lock comprises teeth configured to engage corresponding teeth on the front rail.

20. The merchandise display system of claim 11 further comprising a barrier and a divider wall, the barrier and the divider wall being formed as a one-piece structure with the floor.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 11, 2017
From: HARDY, STEPHEN N.
To: RTC INDUSTRIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 042335/0457 →
Continuity (12)
Continuation 14012715 · Aug 28, 2013
Continuation 13542419 · Jul 5, 2012
Continuation In Part 12639656 · Dec 16, 2009
Continuation In Part 12357860 · Jan 22, 2009
Continuation In Part 11760196 · Jun 8, 2007
Continuation In Part 11411761 · Apr 25, 2006
Provisional Application 61530736 · Sep 2, 2011
Provisional Application 61542473 · Oct 3, 2011
Provisional Application 61553545 · Oct 31, 2011
Provisional Application 60716362 · Sep 12, 2005
Provisional Application 60734692 · Nov 8, 2005
Related Publication 20140332480A1 · Nov 13, 2014