Patent ID: 8353425

Claim:
A pushing system comprising: (a) a track comprising: (i) a product display surface; and (ii) a resistance channel comprising gear teeth that project into the resistance channel; and (iii) sides comprising a plurality of ramped slots; (b) a pusher in sliding engagement with the track, the pusher comprising a brake; (c) a spring that urges the pusher toward the front of the track; (d) a stop positioned relative to the pusher and moveable between a disengaged position and an engaged position, the stop comprising: (i) a plurality of protrusions configured to cooperate with the plurality of ramped slots of the side of the track and; (ii) a plurality of engagement surfaces configured to engage the brake of the pusher to prevent the pusher from moving forward when the stop is in the engaged position; (e) a resistance mechanism that comprises an external gear component that cooperates with the gear teeth of the resistance channel to slow the speed at which the spring urges the pusher forward; and (f) a second spring configured to adjust the orientation of the brake relative to the plurality of engagement surfaces of the stop when the stop is in the engaged position so that the pusher is not prevented from moving backward along the track.