Source: https://patents.google.com/patent/US9277831B2/en
Timestamp: 2019-04-20 01:58:38+00:00

Document:
2017-05-12 First worldwide family litigation filed litigation Critical https://patents.darts-ip.com/?family=44141754&utm_source=google_patent&utm_medium=platform_link&utm_campaign=public_patent_search&patent=US9277831(B2) "Global patent litigation dataset” by Darts-ip is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
An integrated “T” assembly combines into a single integrated assembly, a track portion along both sides of a divider. The T assembly may have a wide-base portion, which may include a spring-urged-pusher track, on one side of the divider and a narrow-base portion on the opposite side of the divider. An offset pusher may have an upper portion that is offset, via an angled offset portion, from a lower portion of the pusher. Additional supporting bases, any of which may include spring-urged-pusher tracks and/or a spring-urged pusher, may be used under a wide product. Left and right side finisher components may be paired with T assemblies near the sides of a merchandise-display shelf. The T assembly, base, and/or end finishers may be coupled to a front rail via a complimentary tongue and groove arrangement and/or a non-slideable engagement.
This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/350,996, filed Jan. 16, 2012, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,662,319, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 13/031,453, filed on Feb. 21, 2011, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,096,427, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/465,936, filed Aug. 21, 2006, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 7,891,503, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/216,493, filed on Aug. 31, 2005, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 7,093,546, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/474,490, filed on Oct. 8, 2003, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,964,235, which is a National Stage application of PCT/US02/15760, filed May 17, 2002, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/291,732 filed May 17, 2001. The above applications are each incorporated herein fully by reference.
In accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the invention, a T assembly and/or a full track may be coupled to a front rail via a complimentary tongue and groove arrangement. Any of the components having a divider panel, such as a T assembly, an end finisher, and a full-width track, may also contain any of various engagement mechanisms for non-slideably engaging with a front rail's corresponding engagement mechanism. For instance, teeth on a base may engage corresponding teeth on the front rail. Teeth of this type advantageously allow a T assembly, full-width track, and/or end finishers with corresponding teeth to be located at positions virtually continuously along the front rail and may prevent the components from being moved unintentionally from their intended positions during normal shopping activity and shelf re-stocking.
In accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the invention, any of the components, which have a divider and/or a pusher track, may be coupled to a front rail via a complimentary tongue and groove arrangement as disclosed in the '720 patent. The T assembly 500 and full track 800 may non-slideably engage each other. For instance, teeth 900, shown in FIG. 5, may engage a corresponding non-slideable engagement detail in a front rail, such as front rail 1000 shown in FIG. 6. FIG. 7 is an enlarged oblique side view of the front rail 1000, viewed from the direction indicated by arrow 1002 in FIG. 6. Teeth 1100 allow a T assembly 500, full-width track 800, and/or a left-end component with corresponding teeth to be located at virtually continuous positions along the front rail. The mating teeth may be relatively thin and closely spaced to allow for precise placement of pusher-track components. The teeth advantageously prevent the components from being unintentionally moved from their intended positions during normal shopping activity and shelf re-stocking.
2. The merchandise-display system of claim 1, wherein the pusher track includes a protrusion for preventing the pusher from sliding off a back end of the pusher track.
3. The merchandise-display system of claim 1, wherein the pusher track defines a first tongue that engages a groove defined by a front rail.
4. The merchandise-display system of claim 1, further comprising a coiled spring defining a first end coupled to the pusher track and a second end positioned behind the pusher.
5. The merchandise-display system of claim 4, wherein the base-and-divider assembly is slidable relative to a shelf.
6. The merchandise-display system of claim 3, wherein the front rail comprises the groove with a top surface, a bottom surface and a second tongue.
7. The merchandise-display system of claim 6, wherein the pusher track engages the top and bottom surfaces of the groove of the front rail with the first tongue, and comprises a third tongue that engages with the second tongue of the front rail.
8. The merchandise-display system of claim 1, wherein the base-and-divider assembly is non-slidable relative to a shelf.
a second unitary, one-piece, base-and-divider assembly adapted for operative coupling to the shelf, wherein a second base portion of the first base-and-divider assembly supports a first side of a displayed product and a first base portion of the second unitary, one-piece, base-and divider assembly supports a second side of the product, which is opposite from the first side of the product.
10. The merchandise-display system of claim 9, wherein the first and second base-and-divider assemblies are non-slidably engaged with the shelf.
11. The merchandise-display system of claim 9, wherein a front rail is configured to be mountable to a front portion of the shelf.
12. The merchandise-display system of claim 9, wherein the pusher track defines a hole for receiving a pin for preventing the pusher from sliding out of the rear portion of the track.
13. The merchandise-display system of claim 9, wherein a portion of the pusher is configured to extend over the base portions of the first unitary, one-piece, base and divider assembly and the second unitary, one-piece, base and divider assembly.
15. The merchandise-display system of claim 14, wherein the pusher track includes a protrusion for preventing the pusher from sliding off a back end of the pusher track.
16. The merchandise-display system of claim 14, wherein the pusher track defines a tongue that engages a groove defined by a front rail.
17. The merchandise-display system of claim 14, further comprising a coiled spring defining a first end coupled to the pusher track and a second end positioned behind the pusher.
18. The merchandise-display system of claim 14, wherein the base-and-divider assembly and the pusher track are slidable relative to a front rail such that the pusher is configured to extend over a first or a second portion of the base-and-divider assembly.
19. The merchandise-display system of claim 14, wherein the base-and-divider assembly and the pusher track are non-slidable relative to a front rail.
20. The merchandise-display system of claim 14, further comprising a second base-and-divider assembly wherein the second base-and-divider assembly includes a second base portion, and a second divider portion for dividing displayed merchandise into rows.
RTC Ind v. William Merit & Assoc., United States District Court Northern District of Illinois (Chicago), Case #:1 :04-cv-01254.
RTC Ind. v. Display Specialties, United States District Court Northern District of Illinois (Chicago), Case #:1 :04-cv-03370.
RTC Ind. v. Fasteners for Retail, et al., United States District Court Northern District of Illinois (Chicago), Case #:1 :03-cv-03137.
RTC Ind. v. Fasteners for Retail, et al., United States District Court Northern District of Illinois (Chicago), Case #:1 :05-cv-06940.
RTC Ind. v. HMG Worldwide Corp., United States District Court Northern District of Illinois (Chicago), Case #:1 :00-cv-03300.
RTC Ind. v. Semasys Inc., et al. United States District Court Northern District of Illinois (Chicago), Case #:1 :04-cv-04081.
RTC Industries, Inc. v. Fasteners for Retail Inc., and CVS Pharmacy, Inc., to Rexam Beauty and Closures, Inc., Subpoena in a Civil Case, Case No. 03C 3137 N.D. Illinois, dated Nov. 11, 2003.
RTC Industries, Inc. v. Fasteners for Retail Inc., and CVS Pharmacy, Inc., to Rexam Cosmetic Packaging, Inc., Subpoena in a Civil Case No. 03C 3137 N.D. Illinois, dated Nov. 11, 2003.
RTC Industries, Inc. v. Fasteners for Retail Inc., and CVS Pharmacy, Inc., to Rexam Cosmetic Packaging, Inc., Subpoena in a Civil Case, Case No. 03C 3137 N.D. Illinois, dated Nov. 11, 2003.
RTC Industries, Inc. v. Fasteners for Retail Inc., Plaintiff RTC Industries Inc.'s Complaint, Civil Action No. 03C 3137, dated May 12. 2003.
RTC Industries, Inc. v. Fasteners for Retail, Inc. and CVS Pharmacy, Inc., Defendants' Opposition to Plaintifrs Motion to Modify and Temporarily Quash Five Subpoenas for Violation of Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 45, Case No. 03C3137, dated Dec. 10, 2003.
RTC Industries, Inc. v. Fasteners for Retail, Inc. and CVS Pharmacy, Inc., to Vulcan Spring & Mfg. Co., Subpoena in a Civil Case, Case No. 03C 3137 N.D. Illinois, dated Oct. 28, 2003.
RTC Industries, Inc. v. HMG Worldwide Corporatio, RTC's Reply to HMG Worldwide Corporation's Amended Counterclaims, Civil Action No. 00 CV 3300, dated Mar. 7, 2001.
RTC Industries, Inc. v. William Merit & Associates, Inc., Declaration of William Merit in Support of Defendant's Motion for Partial Summary Judgment that Claims 1-8 of U.S. Pat. No. 4,830,201 are Not Infringed, Civil Action No. 04 C 1254, dated Apr. 29, 2004.
RTC Industries, Inc. v. William Merit & Associates, Inc., Defendant's Notice of Motion for Partial Summary Judgment of Non-Infringement that Claims 1-8 of U.S. Pat. No. 4,830,201 are Not Infringed, Civil Action No. 04C 1254, dated Apr. 29, 2004.
RTC Industries, Inc. v. William Merit & Associates, Inc., RTC Industries, Inc.'s Responses to Defendant William Merit & Associates, Inc.'s First Set of Requests for Admission to Plaintiff RTC Industries, Inc., Civil Action No. 04 C 1254,dated Jun. 1, 2004.
RTC Industries, Inc., v. Henschei-Steinau, Inc., Complaint, Case: 1 :10-cv-07460 Document #:1 Filed Nov. 19, 2010.
RTC Industries, Inc., v. HMG Worldwide Corporation, Complaint, Civil Action No. Doc 3300, dated May 31, 2000.
Vue 3040 Sanden; Apr. 2005.

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