Abstract:
A self contained retail pusher is provided. The self contained retail pusher is situated on a retail structure in a typical retail environment. The self contained retail pusher may be quickly incorporated into permanent or temporary retail structures such as retail shelves having existing adjacent dividers and a front fence without having to completely disassemble the shelf, dividers, and front fence. The self contained retail pusher also optimizes retail structure space usage by allowing the user to selectively incorporate a single self contained retail pusher or a plurality thereof in a retail structure. Due to its modularity and ability to mount separately and independently from an existing shelving divider system, the self contained retail pusher may be supplied as a stand alone unit, and without a new divider system.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention generally relates to retail pusher systems, and in particular, to a pusher system employed to front face retail merchandise. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     To ensure that retail merchandise stocked upon a retail shelf is suitably presented to a potential customer, it is desirable to situate the merchandise in a neat orientation near the front edge of the retail shelf by “facing” the merchandise. Examples of merchandise that is typically faced include beverage containers and digital video discs. The process of facing often involves sliding the merchandise, which is typically situated upon a retail shelf in rows, toward a front edge of the shelf. Merchandise may be manually faced by hand by store employees, or self-faced using a mechanical apparatus generally known in the art as a pusher system. Manually facing merchandise is a tedious and time consuming chore for store employees that must be performed often, and therefore results in the inefficient use of labor. Pusher systems offer the advantage of reducing inefficiency in the work place, and therefore there is a growing desire to incorporate pusher systems into a variety of new and existing retail environments. 
     Typically, a pusher system includes a front fence, a number of dividers and multiple pushers. To face the merchandise using the pusher system, the merchandise is loaded into a channel defined by two or more adjacent dividers. The dividers assist in maintaining the merchandise in a linear row within the channel. A pusher, also situated within the channel and movable toward and away from the front fence, biases the row of merchandise forward until the front most unit of merchandise is in engageable contact with the front fence at the front edge of the retail shelf. The front fence, dividers, and pushers of a pusher system thus work in combination to face the retail merchandise along a retail shelf. A typical pusher system is a moderately complex assembly that includes multiple pushers and multiple dividers commonly connected to the front fence. The pushers, dividers, and front fence are typically designed in a custom fashion such that the components are not interchangeable with other pusher systems. An exemplary design of such pusher systems describe above is shown in U.S. Patent Application Publication US 2007/0267364 assigned to the present assignee. 
     There continues to be a large number of retail environments where merchandise is inefficiently faced manually because of the large amounts of capital initially invested in shelving and divider systems that do not employ pusher systems. Therefore, there is a growing need for the ability to quickly and efficiently incorporate the benefits of a pusher system into these retail environments without also replacing the existing components of the shelving and divider systems used therein. Moreover, there is a need for retail display systems that can optimize retail space usage due to the increasing stratification of merchandise offered in a retail environment. The present invention is directed at providing a solution to one or more of these issues. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention has several aspects that may be claimed and stand as patentable independently and individually or in combination with other aspects, including but not limited to the following. 
     In one aspect, the present invention provides an apparatus for self-facing merchandise in the form of a pusher assembly that can be quickly and efficiently incorporated into existing retail environments by securing the pusher assembly itself to the retail environment via a fastener attachment. According to this aspect, an embodiment of the invention includes a pusher body, a mounting plate, a spring acting upon the pusher body and the mounting plate through extension and retraction of the spring, and at least one fastener (e.g. such as a pin, multi-pin, nut-bolt arrangement, screw, or other fastener member) adapted to secure the mounting plate in the retail environment (e.g. such as to a retail shelf or a corrugated temporary display). Accordingly, the pusher assembly can be mounted directly to a retail shelf retail using only a fastener. As such, the pusher assembly is supplied without any additional components, e.g. a divider system, and allows the user to retrofit a self-facing system in an existing retail environment without the need to also replace other components such as the existing divider system. This aspect can also be employed in new systems as well, and is not limited to retrofits. As a result, this aspect provides a cost effective and efficient solution for incorporating a self-facing system, i.e. a pusher system, into existing and new shelving systems. 
     One particularly advantageous fastener is a push pin that requires no special installation tools, whereby a user installs the push pin by hand. The push pin embodiment of the fastener snaps in and out of the retail shelf with ease, ultimately reducing the time and required skill level in installing the apparatus. 
     In another inventive aspect, the present invention provides an apparatus for self-facing merchandise in a retail environment that retrofits existing systems or otherwise allows versatility and modularity by mounting the apparatus independently and separate from an existing shelf divider system. According to this aspect, an embodiment of the invention includes a retail shelf adapted to support retail merchandise, a shelf divider system mounted to the shelf having at least two divider walls extending rearwardly away from a front edge of the shelf, and a pusher mounted to the shelf independently and separate from the shelf divider system. The pusher is comprised of a pusher body, a mounting plate, a spring acting on the pusher body and the mounting plate, whereby the pusher body is movable toward and away from the mounting plate through extension and retraction of the spring. 
     In a yet another aspect, the invention provides a method for self-facing retail merchandise in a retail environment. According to this aspect, an embodiment of the invention comprises the steps of securing a pusher directly to a retail environment using a fastener to operably connect a mounting plate of the pusher directly to the retail environment, loading retail merchandise into a channel defined by two adjacent dividers, wherein the pusher assembly is interposed between the adjacent dividers. A pusher body of the pusher assembly is moved away from the mounting plate when loading the retail merchandise, by sequentially placing the retail merchandise in a row disposed of in front of the pusher. 
     Other embodiments of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings incorporated in and forming a part of the specification illustrate several aspects of the present invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings: 
         FIG. 1  is an isometric view of an exemplary embodiment of a self contained retail pusher in a retail environment in combination with a shelf and separate divider system in accordance with the teachings of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an isometric view of the self contained retail pusher used in the retail environment shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a side cross sectional view of the self contained retail pusher of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of another embodiment of the self contained retail pusher similar to that of  FIG. 3 , but that incorporates an integral front stop sized for a single retail merchandise channel; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view the self contained retail pusher of  FIG. 4  installed on a retail structure; 
         FIG. 6  is a side sectional view of a mounting pin of the self contained retail pusher of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a fragmentary side cross-sectional view of the mounting pin of  FIG. 6  installed in a retail shelf structure; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of another embodiment of a self contained retail pusher similar to that of  FIG. 1 , but that incorporates a multi-pin slider device; 
         FIG. 9  is a sectional view of the self contained retail pusher of  FIG. 8  that is installed on a shelf. 
         FIG. 10  is an assembly view of the self contained retail pusher and portions of the retail structure of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 11  is an assembly view of the self contained retail pusher and the retail shelf of  FIG. 9 . 
     
    
    
     While the invention will be described in connection with certain preferred embodiments, there is no intent to limit it to those embodiments. On the contrary, the intent is to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents as included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , an embodiment of an apparatus for self-facing retail merchandise in the form of a pusher assembly  10  is illustrated. As illustrated, the pusher assembly  10  is integrated into a typical retail environment  12 . In the illustrated embodiment, the retail environment  12  includes a sheet metal retail shelf  14  and dividers  26 , but in other embodiments, the retail environment  12  may include other retail structures including but not limited to seasonal or temporary corrugated displays. In one embodiment of the invention, the pusher assembly  10  is supplied independent of any retail structure, and in other embodiments, the pusher assembly  10  can include and function synergistically with a variety of retail structures. 
     The shelf  14  may include parallel rows  16  of apertures  18  extending through the top surface of the shelf  14 . The rows  16  of the apertures are typically in proximity to a front edge  22  of the shelf  14 . Merchandise  24  is situated on a top surface  20  of the shelf  14 , and separated by dividers  26 . The pusher assembly  10  is situated between adjacent dividers  26  in a channel  28 . The pusher assembly  10  is movable within the channel  28  between the front edge  22 , and a rear edge  30  of the shelf  14 . As will be discussed in greater detail below, the pusher assembly  10  biases a row of the retail merchandise  24  toward a common front stop  32  (e.g. in the form of a wire fence, or a alternatively plastic fence such as a transparent wall). 
     For the sake of simplicity, the description will be drawn to a relatively simple embodiment having a single pusher assembly  10  situated between two adjacent dividers  26 . However, it will be understood that a plurality of pusher assemblies  10  may be situated respectively and independently between multiple adjacent dividers  26 . Each set of adjacent dividers  26  can define a channel  28  of different or the same width as the last, and any given channel  28  may incorporate more than one pusher assembly  10 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the pusher assembly  10  is illustrated as including a mounting plate  34 , a fastener such as a pin  36 , a pusher body  38 , and a spring  40 . The pusher body  38  is movable toward and away from the mounting plate  34 , which is fixed to the shelf  14  by the pin  36 . It will be recognized that although a pin  36  is illustrated, other types of fasteners (e.g. such as a pin, multi-pin, nut-bolt arrangement, screw, or other fastener member) may also be used to fix the mounting plate  34  to the shelf  14 . 
     In the illustrated embodiment, and as will be discussed in more detail below, the spring  40  is contained in the pusher body  38  with a free end  42  (see  FIG. 3 ) affixed to the mounting plate  34 . The spring  40  is dispensed from the pusher body  38  when moving the pusher body  38  away from the mounting plate  34 . Once dispensed, the spring  40  acts upon the pusher body  38  to bias it forward. As a result, any merchandise  24  in engageable contact with the pusher body  38  in the channel  28  is also biased forward until the front most item of merchandise  24  engages the front stop  32  as shown. When the front most item of merchandise  24  is removed from the channel  28  by a consumer, the row of merchandise  24  is again biased forward and a portion of the spring  40  is retracted into the pusher body  38  until the next item of merchandise engages the front stop  32 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the pusher body  38  has a front wall  37 , and a pair of side walls  39  extending transversely away from the front wall  37 . The front and side walls  37 ,  39  together form a spring chamber  41  for receipt and housing of the spring  40 . As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the spring  40  may be supplied as a coil spring having a variable coil diameter. 
     The variable coil diameter of the spring  40  begins at an end of the spring  40  opposite the free end and increases in diameter as the spring is coiled. The coil spring  40  has a substantially reduced diameter portion  43  at the start of the coil in order to prevent the coil spring  40  from becoming displaced from the pusher body  38  when the pusher body  38  is fully retracted away from the mounting plate  34 . As such, the spring  40  is coiled such that the pusher body  38  may be freely retracted away from the mounting plate  34  by hand, thereby unwinding the spring  40  up to the substantially reduced coil diameter, i.e. diameter portion  43 . The substantially reduced coil diameter portion  43  will not unwind freely by hand, and therefore the it will not pass through the pusher body opening  60  extending through the front wall  37  of the pusher body  38 , and thus the spring  40  is prevented from becoming displaced from the pusher body  38 . 
     Turning now to  FIG. 3 , a cross section of the pusher assembly  10  is illustrated, showing the mounting plate  34  in greater detail. The mounting plate  34  has a generally rectangular periphery, and serves as the interface between the pusher assembly  10  and the shelf  14 , and in other embodiments, serves as the interface between the pusher assembly  10  and a temporary retail structure, such as a corrugated display. The mounting plate  34  has a front portion  44 , and a rear portion  46 . The front and rear portions  44 ,  46  extend between top and bottom surfaces  48 ,  50 . An angle  52  is formed at the union of front and rear portions  44 ,  46 . As a result of this angle  52 , and as will be discussed in more detail below, the top surface  48  of the mounting plate  34  is ramped such that retail merchandise is biased angularly away from the shelf  14  and onto the top surface  48  of the mounting plate  34  during normal operation of the pusher assembly  10 . The mounting plate  34  may be made of a transparent or opaque formed plastic, or any other suitably rigid material. 
     The front portion  44  of the mounting plate  34  includes a hole  54  that configured to receive the pin  36 . The hole  54  extends between top and bottom surfaces  48 ,  50 , and has a bore designed to accommodate the general shape of the pin  36 . As illustrated, the hole  54  is a counter-bored hole, but in other embodiments, the hole  54  may be a simple hole, or any other similar structure designed to mate with any corresponding fastener. Additionally, the hole  54  may have an oval or generally slotted profile so that the pin  36  may be mounted off center of the mounting plate  34 . When the mounting plate  34  is supplied with an oval or slotted hole  54 , the mounting plate may be adjusted relative to the shelf  14  by locating the pin at a desired location within the slotted hole  54 . Therefore, a user may finely adjust the pusher body  38  relative to the mounting plate  34  to accommodate merchandise of differing size and shape when the pusher assembly  10  is supplied with an oval or slotted opening  54 . Also, the hole  54  may be omitted entirely, and the pin  36 , or any other like fastener, may be unitarily formed with the front portion  44  of the mounting plate  34 . 
     The front portion  44  also includes a slotted opening  56  and a retaining feature  58  for the respective routing and mechanical connection of the spring  40 . The free end  42  of the spring  40  extends outwardly away from the pusher body  36  and through the pusher body opening  60 . The free end  42  then passes through the slotted opening  56 , and is mechanically connected to the retaining feature  58 . The slotted opening  56  extends between top and bottom surfaces  48 ,  50 . The free end  42  is then connected to the retaining feature  58  by virtue of a hole formed in the free end  42 . As illustrated, the free end  42  and the retaining feature  58  are in a sliding fit relation, but in other embodiments, the free end  42  of the spring  40  and the retaining feature  58  may be coupled together via welding, brazing, heat staking, etc. 
     Still referring to  FIG. 3 , the rear portion  46  of mounting plate  34  extends generally transverse to the front portion  44  by virtue of the angle  52  there between. The rear portion  46  functions to ramp merchandise  24  upward and toward the front stop  32  (see  FIG. 1 ) when the angle  52  is less than 180°. The rear portion also supports the pusher body  38  when the pusher body  38  is biased completely forward by the spring  40 . Although illustrated with an angle  52  of less than 180°, in other embodiments mounting plate  34  may be supplied with an angle  52  approximately equal to 180° and therefore the front and rear portions  44 ,  46  are coplanar. 
     To ensure that the mounting plate  34  is rigid enough to ramp and support retail merchandise  24  as discussed above, the mounting plate may be supplied with a stabilizer in the form of a stabilizer rib  53  extending transversely away from the bottom surface  50  of the rear portion  46  of the mounting plate  34 . The stabilizer rib  53  extends between the bottom surface  50  of the mounting plate  34  and the retail shelf  14 , and is designed to prevent unwanted flexion of the mounting plate  34  when retail merchandise  24  is situated thereon. The stabilizer rib  53  may extend the width of the mounting plate  34 , or in other embodiments, may encompass only a portion of said width. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 4 , an alternative embodiment of a pusher assembly  10  is illustrated. In the illustrated embodiment, the mounting plate  34  also includes an integral front stop  62 . The integral front stop  62  performs the same function as the front stop  32  in  FIG. 1 , and as will be discussed in greater detail below, allows the pusher assembly  10  to be incorporated with a simple existing retail structure, such as a shelf  14  utilizing existing dividers  26 . The integral front stop  62  may be supplied in the form of wall extending transversely away from the mounting plate  34 , and proximate to the front portion  44  thereof. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , the pusher assembly  10  is illustrated with a retail shelf  14 , and a pair of adjacent dividers  26 . As can be recognized from the illustration, when incorporated into an existing retail shelf  14  having a pair of dividers  26 , an embodiment of the invention allows a simple retail structure to be quickly reconfigured to front face merchandise  24 . As illustrated, the integral front stop  62  is unique to each self contained retail pusher  10 , and is narrower than the retail merchandise channel  28  (see  FIG. 1 ) it is situated in. As a result, a plurality of self contained retail pushers  10  situated on a retail shelf  14  may each have an independent integral front stop  62 , as opposed to a common front stop running a given length of the shelf  14 . This feature allows a single or plurality of self contained retail pushers  10  to be incorporated into an existing shelving system that consists only of a shelf  14  and dividers  26 , and thereby reconfigure the shelving system to be a self-facing system. Such reconfiguration may only require the additional hardware of a pin  36  or other fastener discussed below, and as such, allows an existing shelving system to be quickly and cost effectively reconfigured to self-face retail merchandise. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 6 , a fastener in the form of a pin  36  is illustrated. While a pin  36  is preferred and has advantages as discussed herein, other fasteners including but not limited to a pin, multi-pin, nut-bolt arrangement, screw, or other fastener member may also be used to affix the mounting plate  34  in the retail environment. Although an embodiment of the fastener is defined structurally as the pin  36 , such a description is not a limitation, and it will be recognized that other types of fasteners may also be used. 
     As will be discussed in greater detail below, the pin  36  secures the mounting plate  34 , and thus the pusher assembly  10 , in the retail environment  12 . The pin  36  includes a head portion  66 , and a prong portion  68  extending transversely away from the head portion  66 . The prong portion includes a neck segment  70 , and a retaining segment  72 . Although illustrated as independent of the mounting plate  34 , the pin  36  may also be unitarily formed with the mounting plate  34  in other embodiments. The pin  36  is made of a transparent or opaque formed plastic, or any other suitably rigid material. 
     Referring to  FIG. 7 , the pin  36  is illustrated in an installed state, thereby securing mounting plate  34  to shelf  14 . When installed, the head portion  66  is flush with the top surface  48  of the mounting plate  34 . When the head portion  66  of the pin  36  is flush with the top surface  48  of the mounting plate, merchandise  24  (see  FIG. 1 ) may be biased forward by the pusher body  38  until the merchandise  24  is disposed of above the pin  36 . The prong portion  68  extends below the head portion  66 , and passes through the mounting plate  34  and the shelf  14 . When fully installed, neck segment  70  is within the corresponding bores of the hole  54  of the mounting plate  34 , and the aperture  18  of the shelf  14 . 
     The retaining segment  72  is disposed of below the shelf  14  when the pin  36  is fully installed. During installation of the pin  36 , the retaining segment  72  deforms radially inward as it passes through the hole  54  and the aperture  18 . Once the retaining segment  72  has passed through the hole  54  and the aperture  18 , it returns to its original radially protruded state as illustrated. The retaining segment  72  is rigid enough to prevent the pusher assembly  10  from becoming unsecured during normal operation, but resilient enough to allow the pin  36  to be installed by hand. Although illustrated as having a radially protruding retaining segment  72 , in other embodiments, the pin  36  may incorporate any feature that is rigid enough to secure the mounting plate  34  in a retail environment, but resilient enough to allow the pin  36  to be installed by hand. Also in other embodiments, the mounting plate  34  may have multiple holes  54 , or a single hole  54  supplied with a slotted opening for the receipt of multiple pins  36 . As describe above, the pin  36  may also be unitarily formed with the mounting plate  34 . 
     In an alternative embodiment, the pusher assembly  10  may be affixed to a temporary retail structure, e.g. one made of a corrugated or other like material. In such an embodiment, the neck segment  70  of the pin  36  is contained within a bore of a punctured opening formed after forcing the pin  36  through the temporary retail structure. The retaining segment  72  deforms radially inward as it passes through the hole  54  and the punctured hole of the retail display. Once the retaining segment  72  has passed through the hole  54  and the punctured opening, it returns to its original radially protruded state as illustrated. As described above, the retaining segment  72  is rigid enough to prevent the pusher assembly  10  from becoming unsecured during normal operation, but resilient enough to allow the pin  36  to be installed by hand. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 8 , an alternative embodiment of the pusher assembly  10  is illustrated incorporating an adjustable multi-pin  80 . The adjustable multi-pin  80  functions to affix the mounting plate  34  and thus the pusher assembly  10  in the retail environment  12 . The adjustable multi-pin  80  has a head portion  82 , and a plurality of prong portions  84  extending below the head portion  82 . Each prong portion includes a neck segment  86  and a retaining segment  88 . The retaining segment  88  terminates in a tapered end  90 . 
     As illustrated, the head portion  82  may generally take the form of a rectangular prism or other similar structure, and is disposed within a channel  74  formed in the bottom surface  50  of the mounting plate  34 . The head portion  82  and corresponding channel  74  are manufactured such that the head portion  82  of the multi-pin  80  is contained within the channel  74  during normal operation, but free to slide within the channel  74  along direction  76 . The head portion may include a plurality of serrations  83  thereon, and the channel may in turn include a plurality of corresponding serrations to mate with the serrations  83  of the head portion  82 . The serrations  83  act to define a finite number of lateral adjustment positions for multi-pin  80  within the channel  74 . The multi-pin  80  is made of a transparent or opaque formed plastic, or any other suitably rigid material. 
     Referring to  FIG. 9 , the multi-pin  80  is illustrated in an installed state, thereby securing the mounting plate  34  to the shelf  14 . The prong portions  84  are equally spaced along the head portion  82 , and correspond to the equal spacing of the apertures  18  of the retail shelf  14 . Although illustrated as utilizing a mounting plate  34  without an integral front stop  62  (see  FIG. 4 ), in other embodiments, the multi-pin  80  may be included in a mounting plate  34  having an integral front stop  62 . 
     Having defined the structure and several embodiments of the invention, a detailed description of how to use these embodiments is now provided. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 10 , an assembled view of an embodiment of the invention is illustrated which incorporates a single pin  36 , and a retail shelf  14  having a plurality of apertures  18 . To affix the mounting plate  34  to the retail shelf  14 , the hole  54  and aperture  18  are first aligned. The pin  36  is then depressed through the aperture  54  of the mounting plate  34  and subsequently through the aperture  18 . Although illustrated using a fastener that is a pin  36 , in other embodiments, the mounting plate can be affixed in a similar fashion using other like fasteners, e.g. by passing a bolt through the mounting plate  34  hole  54  and the corresponding aperture  18 , and threading the bolt onto a nut disposed of below the shelf  14 . 
     As illustrated, the mounting plate  34 , and as a result, the pusher body  38  and spring  40  are incorporated independently of any other mounting hardware and are affixed directly to the retail shelf  14  that incorporates an existing array of dividers  26 . However, in other embodiments, the installation described above may be performed on a retail shelf  14  that does not incorporate any existing dividers  26 . In such an embodiment, dividers  26  may be later installed or omitted entirely. Also, in an embodiment of the invention that incorporates an integral front stop  62 , (see  FIG. 4 ) the mounting plate  34  may be secured to the retail shelf  14  that only incorporates dividers  26  and is free from a pre-existing front stop  32 . 
     Once installed, the pusher body  38  may be retracted away from the front edge  30  of the retail shelf by loading retail merchandise  24  (see  FIG. 1 ) in a linear fashion into the channel  28  formed between the two adjacent dividers  26 . With each subsequent addition of an item of merchandise  24 , the pusher body  38  is moved away from the front edge  30  in direction  96 . As described above, as each item  24  of merchandise is removed from the channel  28 , the row of merchandise  24  is biased forward by operation of the pusher body  38  and spring  40  until the next item of merchandise  24  engages the front stop  32 . 
     Turning now to  FIG. 11 , the pusher assembly  10  is illustrated incorporating the multi-pin  80  and a typical retail shelf  14 . The mounting plate  34  is secured to the retail shelf by first installing the multi-pin  80  in the channel  74 , then aligning the prong portions  84  with the apertures  18  of the retail shelf  14 , and applying sufficient force to resiliently snap the prong portions  84  through the apertures  18 . A user may then, if so desired, finely adjust the lateral positioning of the pusher assembly  10  by sliding the mounting plate  34  relative to the adjustable mounting pin  80 . The step of installing the multi-pin  80  in the channel  74  is not required in those embodiments utilizing an integral multi-pin  80 . 
     In a similar manner as described above, once installed, the pusher body  38  may be retracted away from the mounting plate  34  in a linear fashion within the channel  28  the pusher assembly  10  is contained in. With each subsequent addition of an item of merchandise  24 , the pusher body  38  is moved away from the mounting plate  34 . As each item  24  of merchandise is removed from the channel  28 , the row of merchandise  24  is biased forward by operation of the pusher body  38  and spring  40  until the next item of merchandise  24  engages the front stop  32 , or integral front stop  62  in other embodiments. 
     The embodiments of the invention as illustrated and described provide an apparatus for self-facing retail merchandise in a retail environment that a user may quickly incorporate into permanent or temporary retail environments in a modular fashion. 
     The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) is to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing” are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, but not limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention. 
     Preferred embodiments of this invention are described herein, including the best mode known to the inventors for carrying out the invention. Variations of those preferred embodiments may become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. The inventors expect skilled artisans to employ such variations as appropriate, and the inventors intend for the invention to be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, this invention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.