Source: https://patents.google.com/patent/US8453850B2/en
Timestamp: 2019-04-26 04:53:30+00:00

Document:
2010-07-22 Assigned to RTC INDUSTRIES, INC. reassignment RTC INDUSTRIES, INC. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: HARDY, STEPHEN N.
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. The pusher mechanism of an exemplary embodiment includes a pusher surface and a pusher floor that extends forward of the pusher surface. A flat coiled spring or other biasing element may be operatively connected behind the pusher mechanism and extend across a divider and to the front of the shelf In use, the product to be merchandised may be placed on the pusher floor. With this configuration, the pusher surface is prevented from tipping or bending backwards during operation. In an alternative aspect, the end of the coiled spring may be mounted to a retainer, or alternatively, may be mounted to a divider.
This Application claims benefit to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/062,571 filed Jan. 25, 2008 and is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/760,196 filed Jun. 8, 2007, which is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/411,761 filed Apr. 25, 2006 which claims benefit to U.S. Provisional Application Nos., 60/716,362 filed Sep. 12, 2005 and 60/734,692 filed Nov. 8, 2005, all of which are incorporated herein by reference.
The exemplary embodiments of the invention relate generally to a shelf assembly for use in merchandising product and more particularly to a shelf assembly having improved mechanisms for displaying and pushing product on the shelves.
One exemplary embodiment is directed at improving upon existing merchandising systems by providing a trackless pusher system that works with gravity-fed merchandise systems (i.e., inclined shelves or trays) and non-gravity-fed merchandise systems.
The pusher mechanism can include a pusher paddle and a floor that extends forward of the pusher paddle. A flat coiled spring or other biasing element can be operatively connected behind the pusher paddle and extend across the floor of the pusher mechanism and to the front of the shelf Alternatively, the flat coiled spring or biasing element can extend across the divider to the front of the shelf assembly. With this configuration, the pusher paddle is prevented from tipping or bending backwards during operation.
In accordance with an exemplary illustrative embodiment of the invention, the pusher paddle may define a concave pushing surface for pushing cylindrical products, such as soft drink bottles or cans, and to keep the paddle centered on the track and behind the product. Alternatively, the pusher paddle may define a flat pushing surface that may further include at its upper edge a curved rib or similar structure that can also be used to push cylindrical products.
FIG. 15 depicts a rear view of the system of FIG. 11.
FIG. 30 depicts a close-up isometric view of the embodiment of FIG. 28 illustrating a rivet attaching the spring to the tray.
As depicted in FIGS. 9 and 10, the surface 16 may define a rounded end portion 24 that includes a notch or cut-out portion 26. The end portion 24 may be rounded to match the shape of the product that is placed on the tray. For example, the depicted end portion 24 is rounded or defines a semi-circular shape to match the contour of a bottle or can that may be placed in the tray and on the end portion 24. Other shapes of the end portion may be used with the invention depending on the product to be merchandised.
Located at the front of the tray 12 and extending between the dividers 18 may be one or more product-retaining members 44. The product-retaining members 44 serve as a front retaining wall or bar to hold the product in the tray 12 and to prevent the product from falling out of the tray 12. These members are also configured to permit the easy removal of the forward-most product positioned in the tray 12. The product-retaining member 44 may be one or more curve-shaped retaining ribs as depicted in FIG. 1. These illustrated retaining ribs may extend from one divider to another divider thereby joining the dividers. The retaining ribs may also extend part-way between the dividers, as also shown in FIG. 1 as rib 46, to also assist in retaining the product in the tray. Alternatively, and as shown in FIG. 6 the product-retaining member 44 may be a curve-shaped solid retaining wall 48 that extends between dividers. The retaining wall 48 may be transparent or semi-transparent to permit visualization of the product on the shelf In another aspect, the retaining wall 48 may also extend part-way between the dividers 18. In yet another embodiment depicted in FIGS. 11-15, the retaining wall 100 may be attached to the surface of the tray and not connect to the dividers. In this embodiment, the retaining wall 100 may form an opening 102 defined by an upper member 104, opposing, curved side walls 106 that further define an angled edge 108, and a floor member 110. The side walls 106 may also be straight and not curved depending on the system. The end of the coiled spring may also snap-fit into the floor 110 or otherwise attached to the tray using any of the techniques described herein. One of skill in the art will readily appreciate that there are numerous shapes and configurations possible for the product-retaining member 44 and that the depicted configurations are merely exemplary embodiments of these numerous configurations.
In an alternative aspect of the invention, as shown in FIGS. 16-20, an adaptor 180 may be positioned on the surface 16. Referring to FIGS. 16 and 17, the adaptor 180 may include one or more raised ribs 182 on which a product may sit. The raised ribs 182 may extend longitudinally along the length of the adaptor 180. The adaptor 180 may be a flat extrusion of plastic material (or any other suitable material) defining a planar surface 184 with the one or more ribs 182 extending outwardly from the planar surface 184. The adaptor 180 may define a rounded end 185 and include a notch or cut-away portion 186 through which or across which the coiled spring may extend. The rounded end 185 may be configured to match the shape of the product that is placed on the tray. Other shapes of the end 185, notch 186 and adaptor 180 may be used with the invention depending on the product to be merchandised. The adaptor 180 may be a separate, insertable piece or, alternatively, a piece formed integral with the surface 16.
The coiled spring 30 may be any biasing element including, without limitation, a flat coil spring commonly used with pusher systems. The present invention may use one or more coiled springs to urge the pusher mechanism 14 forward depending on the desired application. The coil tension of the spring 30 may also vary depending on the particular application.
In another exemplary embodiment depicted in FIGS. 38, 39, 48 and 49, the coiled spring 30 can be directly mounted to a divider 266. In addition, in this exemplary embodiment the coiled spring 30 can be mounted perpendicular to the pusher floor 288 such that the axis, about which the coiled spring 30 is coiled, is perpendicular to the pusher floor 288. This orientation has the benefit of preventing the pusher paddle from tipping back. The first spring end 290 can be provided with an angled portion 292 and a tip portion 296. In one exemplary embodiment, the angled portion 292 can be bent perpendicular to the coiled spring body 294. The divider can be provided with a slot 298, which is adapted to receive the tip portion 296 of the first spring end 290.
When assembled, as depicted in FIG. 41C, the connecting portions 272 are received between the teeth 278 of the rails. Additionally, the elongated angled surfaces 268 and 270 and the projections 274 are wedged between the teeth 278. Also as shown in FIG. 41C, the elongated angled surfaces 268 and 270 engage the face surfaces 280, and the projections 274 engage the lower surfaces of the teeth 278. Flank surfaces 282 contact the connecting portion 272.
Variations and modifications of the foregoing are within the scope of the present invention. For example, one of skill in the art will understand that multiples of the described components may be used in stores and in various configurations. The present invention is therefore not to be limited to the single system 10, nor the upright pusher configuration, depicted in the Figures, as the system 10 is simply illustrative of the features, teachings and principles of the invention. It should further be understood that the invention disclosed and defined herein extends to all alternative combinations of two or more of the individual features mentioned or evident from the text and/or drawings. All of these different combinations constitute various alternative aspects of the present invention. The embodiments described herein explain the best modes known for practicing the invention and will enable others skilled in the art to utilize the invention. The claims are to be construed to include alternative embodiments to the extent permitted by the prior art.
at least one vertical divider adjacent the pusher mechanism and configured to mount to the tray for dividing displayed products into rows, the at least one vertical divider having a substantially planar vertical surface extending upward from the surface of the tray, the vertical surface configured to receive the first end of the coiled spring, wherein the pusher mechanism is held onto the display system only by the coiled spring.
2. The product management display system of claim 1, wherein the at least one vertical divider defines a slot for receiving the first end of the coiled spring.
3. The product management display system of claim 2, wherein the first end of the coiled spring defines an angled portion and wherein the angled portion is configured to engage the slot in the at least one vertical divider so as to secure the first end of the coiled spring to the at least one vertical divider.
4. The product management display system of claim 3, further comprising a retainer configured to be received by a front portion of the tray.
5. The product management display system of claim 1, wherein the coiled second end is coiled about an axis and wherein the axis is perpendicular to the pusher surface.
6. The product management display system of claim 1, wherein the pusher surface is curve shaped.
7. The product management display system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of rails are joined together by a plurality of ribs.
8. The product management display system of claim 1, wherein the tray defines a first side and a second side, the first side having at least one groove configured to receive a correspondingly shaped tongue from a second tray and the second side having at least one tongue configured to fit into a correspondingly shaped groove of a third tray.
9. The product management display system of claim 1, wherein the at least one vertical divider is configured to be secured between the rails.
10. The product management display system of claim 9, wherein the at least one vertical divider further comprises at least one connecting portion having at least one elongated angled surface and at least one projection wherein the at least one elongated angled surface and the at least one projection are configured to fit between the rails to secure the at least one vertical divider between the rails.
11. The product management display system of claim 10, wherein the connecting portion comprises a second elongated angled surface and a second projection, wherein the rails define teeth, and wherein the elongated angled surfaces and the projections are configured to fit between teeth to secure the at least one vertical divider between rails.
FFr Yello Pages® 2003 Product Catalog, "Merchandising Ideas Made Easy for Every Retail Environment!", Cover pg., 9-11, 48-49, 52-58, Back Cover.
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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 Cosmetic Packaging, Inc., Subpoena in a Civil Case, Case No. 03C 3137 N.D. Illinois, dated Nov. 11, 2003.
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