Abstract:
A self-facing merchandise pusher system for use in retail stores. Numerous products in a retail store are merchandised on shelves and a biased pusher is used to urge products toward the front edge of the shelf. The width of the pusher corresponds generally to the width of the narrowest product to be pushed. A removable divider extends vertically between each pusher. When pushing products that are multiples of the width of the narrowest product, dividers may be removed to create a larger pushing surface. Removing a divider locks two adjacent pushers together thereby causing the two pushers to push in unison and prevents product from slipping between the adjacent pushers.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates to a self-facing merchandise pusher system for use in retail stores. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Many types of products in a retail store are merchandised on shelves and can be pushed to the front of the shelf, toward the aisle, by a spring-urged pusher system that attaches to or is placed on the shelf. The pushing function serves to keep the product “front faced” at the front shelf edge so that the product is easier for the consumer to see, presents an organized, neater appearance, and makes restocking of the product easier for store personnel. Certain types of product packages, particularly tall, skinny packages, such as toothbrushes, are good candidates for a spring-urged pushing system because these products do not stand up well and require both restraining means and pushers so that the product can be effectively merchandised. 
     Known merchandising pusher systems, such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,730,320 to David and U.S. Pat. No. 5,131,563 to Yablans, include a segregated horizontal space, usually separated by product dividers, and a pusher between the dividers. The pushing surface on the pusher is generally a rigid vertical plane urged forward by a single spring. Typically, the pushing surface is oriented in a parallel manner to a fixed product retainer that resides at the front of the system, thereby keeping pushed product from spilling from the system. When merchandising certain products, such as toothbrushes, for example, the products are often sold in packaging that is a multiple of the width of the smallest single product. Consequently, in a retail store, it may be necessary to display many of each of several widths of product. As a result, a pusher system must accommodate these package widths and be flexible enough to allow changing of the positions of these products on the shelf without having to obtain and install different pusher components and without occupy ing a significant amount of time by store personnel. Currently, all known merchandise pusher systems are either limited to one package width or require additional components to be installed for other package sizes, as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,409,027 to Chang et al. The present invention is directed at overcoming these and other known problems. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to a self-facing merchandise pusher system for use in displaying and dispensing product in retail stores. The invention incorporates biased pushers that are used to urge product toward the front edge of the retail shelf. The width of the pusher corresponds generally to the width of the narrowest product to be pushed. A removable divider extends vertically between each pusher. When pushing products of varying widths or multiples of the width of the narrowest product, dividers may be removed to create a larger pushing surface. Removing a divider causes a mechanism to interlock with an adjacent pusher thereby locking the two adjacent pushers together. Once interlocked, the adjacent pushers move in unison to urge larger width product toward the front edge of the retail shelf and also do not allow product to slip between the interlocked pushers. Likewise, replacing the divider causes the interlocking mechanism to retract from the adjacent pusher thereby unlocking the previously locked adjacent pushers and creating two independently movable pushers to dispense product. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 shows an isometric view of the merchandise self-facing system of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 shows a back elevation view of a pusher of the invention of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 shows a back elevation view of multiple pushers of the invention of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 4 shows a partial elevation view of the pus hers of the invention of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 5 shows a top plan view of the invention of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 6 shows a front elevation view of the invention of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 7 shows a side elevation view of the invention of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 8 shows a partial side elevation view of the connection of the pusher to the housing. 
     FIG. 9 shows a partial side elevation view of the installation of the biasing mechanism of the present invention. 
     FIG. 10 shows another partial side elevation view of the assembly of FIG.  9 . 
     FIG. 11 shows another partial side elevation view of the assembly of FIG.  9 . 
     FIG. 12 shows an isometric view of the assembly of FIG.  9 . 
     FIG. 13 shows an isometric view of the assembly of FIG.  11 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The invention may be embodied in various forms. Referring to the Figures wherein like numerals indicate like elements, there is depicted in FIG. 1 an isometric view of the present invention. The invention allows the placement of merchandised product of any width, and any multiple of any width, at any position in the system with a simple operation. 
     As depicted, merchandise to be displayed and sold is contained in a box or housing  10  that may rest on or be attach ed to a retail shelf. Any known method of attaching or securing the housing  10  to the retail shelf may be used with the present invention. The housing  10  has a typical width of one or two feet, has a depth approximately the same depth of the shelf on which the housing is to be placed, and has a height approximately the height of the product to be merchandised. It should be apparent to those of skill in the art that the overall dimensions of the housing  10  will vary depending on the product merchandised and the constraints of the shelf on which the housing  10  is placed. 
     Referring to FIGS.  1  and  5 - 7 , the box or housing  10  is divided into a plurality of product channels  12  with each product channel capable of containing individual product of the same or similar widths. While the Figures depict product channels  12  of equal width, product channels  12  of varying widths may be used with, and still be considered a part of, the present invention. The housing  10  includes a top wall  40 , a bottom wall  42 , opposing vertical side walls or panels  44 , an open back wall  46 , and a front product retaining wall or panel  48 . The top and bottom walls  40 ,  42  are typically solid walls made of a suitable plastic or metal material that, depending on the application, may be modified or customized to permit mounting or fastening of the housing  10  onto a retail shelf. The top and bottom walls  40 ,  42  include a plurality of longitudinally extending slots  50  that extend the length of the walls  40 ,  42  and therefore the depth of the housing  10 . The slots  50  receive and accommodate removable dividers  22 , discussed below, that may be placed between the plurality of product channels  12  to separate the product being merchandised. The slots  50  may extend through the front  52  of the top wall  40  and also receive and accommodate the pushers  14 , discussed below, for merchandising product. The slots  50  are sized and shaped to permit the slidable insertion and removal of the dividers  22  and pushers  14  from either the front or back of the housing  10 . By removing some of the dividers, the width of the product channels  12  is changed to accommodate other sized products and product packaging. 
     It should be understood by those skilled in the art that variations to the top and bottom walls can be made to accommodate the insertion, placement, or removal of the dividers, variations that are still considered within the scope of the invention. For example, it may be desirable to reverse the structure that provides the slidable engagement of the dividers  22  with the slots  50  and still achieve an objective of the present invention. In other words, it may be desirable to place a slot in the end of the divider  22  that slidably engages a guide portion located in the top or bottom wall of the housing. This construction still permits the slidable insertion and removal of the dividers between the product channels. 
     As another example, it may be desirable to permit the insertion or removal of the dividers  22  through the top or bottom walls  40 ,  42  as opposed to the insertion or removal from the front or back of the housing. Under this scenario, the slots  50  may extend through the thickness of the wall of either the top or bottom walls  40 ,  42 , or both. This modification will create an opening in the top or bottom walls  40 ,  42  to thus permit the slidable insertion and removal of the dividers  22 . It may further be desirable to include a back ledge or similar structure on the back wall, or extending from the top or bottom walls, of the housing to serve as a stop and retaining means for the dividers and pushers that are slid along the slots  50 . One of skill in the art should readily understand that other modifications may be made to the housing  10  or the walls to achieve an objective of the invention, namely, the insertion, placement, removal, and interchangeability of the dividers to permit the change of the product channel  12  widths to thereby accommodate varying sized products or product packaging. 
     One of skill in the art will further understand that while the slots  50  make the insertion and removal of the dividers a simple, easy operation, the invention contemplates systems that do not use slots. Rather, the dividers may simply be placed, anchored, fastened, secured or restrained by other techniques known in the art techniques that also permit the removal of the dividers. These techniques are also to be considered within the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     As stated, the removable divider  22  may be placed between each product channel  12  and therefore between each pusher  14 , described below. The divider  22  extends vertically from the top wall  40  to the bottom wall  42  and from the open back wall  46  to the front product retaining wall  48 . The divider  22  separates merchandised product of adjacent product channels  12 . The divider  22  is slidably removable from the housing. Because the invention may be stacked vertically, or placed adjacently, to increase the amount of product offered for sale, front or rear access to the divider is preferred. However, as stated, access to the divider from the top or bottom is possible with the present invention. The divider is preferably a clear plastic material that allows the product placed within the product channel  12  to be viewed by the consumer. The divider material should be sufficiently rigid to retain the product within the product channels  12 . 
     As depicted in FIG. 1, depending on the product merchandised, the divider  22  may have a portion removed to permit the easy placement and removal of product within the housing  10 . That is, as depicted, the divider  22  defines a sloped or curved edge  60  that extends rearward from a location adjacent the front product retaining wall  48  toward the back wall  46 . The extent of the slope or curve may vary depending on the product displayed and merchandised. The sloped or curved edge  60  also serves to cause movement of the interlocking mechanism, discussed below. It should be understood that the sloped or curved edge may be located on both ends of the divider  22  to cause movement of the interlocking mechanism when the divider is inserted from either the front or back of the housing. 
     The opposing vertical side walls or panels  44  and the front product retaining wall  48  are typically solid walls made of a suitable plastic material, or other suitable material. The side walls  44  are generally sized and shaped to match the shape and contour of the removable dividers  22 . Wall retaining tabs  61  extend outwardly from the side walls  44  and are used to connect and restrain the front product retaining wall  48  to the side walls  44 . The retaining tabs  61  also permit the easy removal of the front product retaining wall  48  from the housing  10 . It should be understood that other wall retaining tabs, or other techniques for retaining the front product retaining wall  48 , may be used with the present invention. 
     Within each product channel  12  is a pusher  14  for biasing merchandised product toward the front product retaining wall  48  of the housing and therefore toward the front of the shelf on which the housing is placed. As should be apparent, the merchandised product is restrained between the pusher  14  and the front product retaining wall  48 . Referring to FIGS. 1-4, the pusher  14  includes a front surface  62 , back surface  64 , and opposing side surfaces  66 . The front surface  62  defines a rigid surface that, with the aid of the biasing mechanism  16 , discussed below, urges the product toward the front product retaining wall  48 . Mounted to the back surface  64  of the pusher  14  is an interlocking device or mechanism  24 , preferably a pivoting mechanism, discussed below. Openings  76  are located in the side surfaces  66  of the pusher for receiving and securing the interlocking mechanism  24  from an adjacent pusher, thereby locking adjacent pushers together, as discussed below. The openings  76 , preferably slots, are sized and shaped to receive the interlocking mechanism  24  therethrough. 
     Each pusher  14  includes at its bottom end a downwardly extending fin  15  that slidably engages a slot  50  and is urged by a pair of biasing mechanisms  16 , such as springs or other suitable resilient members. The biasing mechanism  16  is preferably a flat coil spring. As depicted in the exemplary embodiment, the biasing mechanism  16  has a secured end  18 , shown in FIGS. 8-13, that attaches to either the top or bottom walls  40 ,  42  and a coiled extended end  19 , shown in FIGS. 2,  3  and  8 , that abuts the back surface  64  of the pusher  14 . The biasing mechanism  16  may be located at both the top and bottom ends of the pusher  14 . Placement at both ends permits the independent movement of each end of the pusher. With this mounting technique, the pushers effectively “float” between the top and bottom walls  40 ,  42  greatly reducing the likelihood of product not self-feeding toward the front of the housing  10 . This mounting technique also makes the stocking of product an easy operation for store personnel and also permits varying shaped packaging to be placed with the product channels  12 . While the flat coil spring is the preferred mechanism for biasing the pusher  14 , other spring or biasing arrangements, and other spring mounted arrangements may be used with and should be considered to be within the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, it is contemplated that the coiled end of the biasing mechansim can be connected to the housing through the use of a spool or similar device and the secured end can be connected to the pusher. This embodiment still maintains an object of the invention, namely, the independent movement of each end of the pusher. 
     Referring to FIGS. 8-13, the secured end  18  of the biasing mechanism  16  is shown being installed and secured to either of the bottom wall  40  or top wall  42  of the housing  10 . In an exemplary embodiment, the secured end  18  of the biasing mechanism  16  is V-shaped and has a predetermined spring resiliency such that under an applied load, as indicated by arrow  92 , the V-shaped end of the biasing mechanism  16  will compress and will return to its original shape upon the removal of the applied load. During installation of the biasing mechanism  16 , by pressing down on the secured end  18  in the direction indicated by arrow  94 , the V-shaped end of the biasing mechanism  16  compresses, as indicated by arrow  92 , and releasably snaps into a channel  96  formed in the bottom wall  40  of the housing  10 . Located within the channel  96  is a ledge  98  on which the V-shaped end  18  engages and prevents the secured V-shaped end  18  from releasing from the channel  96 . To release the biasing mechanism  16  from the channel  96 , one must simply apply a load on the V-shaped end  18 , as indicated by arrow  100 , until the V-shaped end  18  clears the ledge  98 . The biasing mechanism may then be lifted up and out of the channel  96 . 
     Referring back to FIGS. 2-4, as stated, each pusher  14  may have attached to it an interlocking device  24 , such as a pivoting mechanism, that can engage with an adjacent pusher when the divider  22  is removed and can disengage when the divider  22  is installed. The interlocking mechanism  24  is secured to the back surface  64  of the pusher by a fastener  70 , or similar attachment means, and is either gravity-biased or spring-biased about the fastener  70 . The interlocking mechanism  24  is depicted as being generally L-shaped and has a first end  72  rotatably mounted to the back surface  64  of the pusher  14 , and a second free end  74  of a sufficient length to extend through an opening  76  located in the side surface  66  of an adjacent pusher and across the back surface  64  of the adjacent pusher. In a retracted position, the free end  74  of the interlocking mechanism  24  abuts a stop lug  77  that is positioned on the back surface  64  of the pusher  14 . In an extended position, the free end  74  may rest on a second stop lug  79  that is also located on the back surface  64  of the pusher  14 , as illustrated by FIG.  4 . It should be understood that the fastener  70 , or similar attachment means, along with the opening  76  permit the pusher to be adaptable with the interlocking mechanism of the present invention, or a similar interlocking technique. 
     In operation, upon the removal of a divider  22 , the interlocking mechanism  24  of one pusher rotates about the fastener  70 , which serves as pivot point, and the free end  74  of the interlocking mechanism  24  extends through the opening  76  and across the back surface of an adjacent pusher. The engagement of the interlocking mechanism  24  with the opening  76  effectively locks the adjacent pushers  14  together. Once locked, the adjacent pushers form a coherently moving pushing surface that is a multiple of the width of a single pusher. Stated another way, the action of slidably installing or removing the divider  22  automatically activates or deactivates the interlocking mechanism  24  with the opening  76 , thereby locking or unlocking adjacent pushers  14 . Significantly, with the present invention, no additional parts are required to vary the effective pushing width of the pushers. In addition, minimal effort is required to make the change in effective pushing width of the pushers. 
     One of skill in the art will understand that variations of the interlocking mechanism  24 , opening  76 , and the interlocking of adjacent pushers  14  exist. For example, the interlocking mechanism  24  may be a slidable latch that engages with an opening or aperture in an adjacent pusher. The interlocking mechanism may also include a hook for engaging a loop or pin on the adjacent pusher. Other embodiments and variations exist, such as the use of push pins, types of slidable clamps or fasteners, and the like, all of which are considered within the spirit of the invention because they achieve an object of the invention, namely, to lock and unlock adjacent pushers, without adding additional parts, to thereby permit the merchandising of various sized products and product packaging. 
     As depicted in FIG. 1, other benefits of the invention include a storage space or compartment  26  at the top of the housing  10  to store removed dividers  22  or the front product retaining wall  48 . 
     While the invention has been described with respect to specific examples including presently preferred modes of carrying out the invention, those skilled in the art will appreciate that there are numerous variations and permutations of the above described systems and techniques that fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.