IP Library Granted Patent US 8,047,385
Granted Patent B2
US 8,047,385 · App. 12/872,721 · Granted Nov 1, 2011

Product securement and management system

Assignee: RTC Industries, Inc.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,047,385
App. No.
12/872,721
Granted
Nov 1, 2011
Kind
B2
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. The system may further include a spring-urged pusher movably mounted on the base, a locking assembly, and an electronic control unit the triggers the locking assembly, locking the door from opening and stopping the pusher from moving product forward to the door.

Claims (18)

1. A merchandising system, comprising:

a base configured to support product;

a housing configured to be engaged with the base, comprising a top wall, a first side wall, and a second side wall;

a spring-urged pusher movably mounted on the base;

a rotatable door assembly that includes a door configured to hold one product, wherein the door moves from a closed position to an open position;

a locking assembly that comprises a locking bar mounted to the base, wherein the locking bar moves from an extended position and an unextended position, and when the locking bar is in the extended position, the locking bar locks the door assembly and the spring-urged pusher; and

an electronic control unit that triggers a lock-out mechanism engaged to the locking bar to move the locking bar from the unextended position to the extended position.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the electronic control unit triggers the lock-out mechanism when a preset number of products are removed in a preset time limit.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the preset number of products equal three.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the preset time limit equals ten minutes.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the locking assembly further comprises a locking latch that engages the locking bar when the locking bar is in the extended position.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the locking assembly further comprises a locking gear that includes a free end and a gear teeth end.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein a door spring is attached to the door and the free end of the locking gear.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein when the locking bar is in the extended position, the locking latch engages the gear teeth end of the locking gear which prohibits the uncoiling of the door spring and the door moving to the open position.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the locking assembly further comprises a ratchet shaft that is located in a slot on the base, wherein the slot extends longitudinally along the length of the base.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the ratchet shaft includes at least one section that has a plurality of teeth extending along the longitudinal axis of the shaft and at least one section that is flat that extends along the longitudinal axis of the shaft.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the locking mechanism includes a pusher lock that is attached to the spring-urged pusher.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein when the locking bar is in the extended position, the ratchet shaft rotates such that the plurality of teeth face upwards towards the pusher lock and a pointed end of the pusher lock engages one of the plurality of teeth to prohibit the movement of the pusher.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 5, 2011
From: HARDY, STEPHEN N.
To: RTC INDUSTRIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 025587/0658 →
Continuity (9)
Continuation In Part 12496389 · Jul 1, 2009
Continuation In Part 11858545 · Sep 20, 2007
Continuation In Part 11685530 · Mar 13, 2007
Continuation In Part 11612210 · Dec 18, 2006
Continuation 11140023 · May 27, 2005
Continuation In Part 11047915 · Feb 1, 2005
Provisional Application 60782000 · Mar 13, 2006
Provisional Application 60541804 · Feb 3, 2004
Related Publication 20110094975A1 · Apr 28, 2011