CN113576204A

CN113576204A - Product management display system

Info

Publication number: CN113576204A
Application number: CN202110586816.7A
Authority: CN
Inventors: S.N.哈迪
Original assignee: RTC Industries Inc
Current assignee: RTC Industries Inc
Priority date: 2016-11-07
Filing date: 2017-11-06
Publication date: 2021-11-02
Also published as: AU2017355630B2; KR102286602B1; AU2017355630A1; KR20190077047A; EP3518709B1; CN110049697B; WO2018085776A1; KR20210097231A; CN110049697A; BR112019009015A2; EP3518709A1; AU2020286297A1

Abstract

A product management display system for selling products on shelves comprising: a spacer secured to the support structure; a pusher for moving the product; a blocking member; and a low-volume product indicator device. The low product indicator means is visible when the amount of product on the top surface of the divider floor or on the shelf is low.

Description

Product management display system

The application is a divisional application of an invention patent application with the application date of 2017, 11 and 6, and the application number of 201780075851.4, and the invention name of the invention is 'product management display system'.

Cross Reference to Related Applications

The present application claims priority from us application No.15/330,834 filed on 7/11/2016, which is a continuation-in-part application of us application No.14/802,549 filed on 17/7/2015, us application No.14/802,549 is a continuation-in-part application of us application No.14/136,029 filed on 20/12/2013, us application No.14/136,029 is a continuation-in-part application of us application No.13/839,674 (now us patent No.8,978,904) filed on 15/3/2013, us application No.13/839,674 is a continuation-in-part application of us application No.13/542,419 (now us patent No.8,739,984) filed on 5/2012/7/2009, us application No.13/542,419 is a continuation-in-part application of us application No.12/639,656 (now us patent No.8,322,544) filed on 16/2009, us application No.12/639,656 is a continuation-in-part application of us application No.12/357,860 (now us patent No.8,453,850) filed on 1/22/2009, U.S. application No.12/357,860 is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. application No.11/760,196 (now U.S. patent No.8,312,999) filed on 8.6.2007, U.S. application No.11/760,196 is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. application No.11/411,761 (now U.S. patent No.7,823,734) filed on 25.4.2006, and U.S. application No.11/411,761 claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application No.60/716,362 filed on 12.9.2005 and U.S. provisional application No.60/734,692 filed on 8.11.2005, all of which are incorporated herein by reference. U.S. application No.13/542,419 is also entitled to the benefit of U.S. provisional application No.61/530,736 filed on 2.9.2011 and U.S. provisional application No.61/542,473 filed on 3.10.2011 and U.S. provisional application No.61/553,545 filed on 31.10.2011, all of which are incorporated herein by reference. U.S. application No.14/136,029 also claims priority to U.S. provisional application No.61/861,843 filed on 8/2/2013, which is incorporated herein by reference, U.S. provisional application No.61/861,843.

Technical Field

Exemplary embodiments relate generally to shelf assemblies for merchandising products and, more particularly, to shelf assemblies having an improved mechanism for displaying and pushing products on the shelf.

Background

It is well known that retail and wholesale stores, such as convenience stores, drug stores, grocery stores, discount stores, etc., require a large number of shelves to store and display products to consumers. In displaying the products, it is desirable that the products on the shelf be positioned toward the front of the shelf so that the products are visible and accessible to the consumer. In the case of coolers or refrigerators for storing and displaying products such as soft drinks, energy drinks, bottled water and other bottled or canned beverages, it is desirable that these products also be located at the front of the shelf and be visible and accessible to the consumer.

To achieve this placement of the products, known systems may include an inclined tray or floor that will move the products toward the front of the shelf by gravity. Many of these systems include a floor or shelf made of a plastic material, such as a polypropylene layer, which allows the product to slide easily along an inclined floor or surface due to its low coefficient of friction. However, over time, these surfaces can become clogged with debris or sticky matter that prevents the product from sliding properly, sometimes causing several products to tip over, preventing other products from moving to the front of the shelf.

Other systems include using a pusher system to push product toward the front of the shelf when product at the front of the shelf is removed. Known pusher systems are typically mounted to the track and include pusher blades and coiled springs to push the product forward. Sometimes, as the system is used, and over time, the track can become clogged with dust or sticky matter, which can prevent proper operation of the pusher system in the track. In addition, depending on the size, shape and weight of the product to be sold, known pusher blades may occasionally tip forward or bend backward, resulting in binding of the pusher mechanism in the track. In these cases, the pusher mechanism may not be able to properly push the product toward the front of the shelf.

One exemplary embodiment is directed to improving existing merchandising systems by providing a trackless pusher system that works with both gravity-fed merchandise systems (i.e., inclined shelves or trays) and non-gravity-fed merchandise systems.

Disclosure of Invention

One exemplary embodiment relates to a product management display system for selling products on shelves. This embodiment includes the use of a trackless pusher mechanism that travels along a surface on which product is placed. The trackless system overcomes known problems of using rails to hold and guide known pusher mechanisms. However, it should be understood that the teachings of this embodiment may be used with systems that include a track for mounting a pusher mechanism or the like.

The pusher mechanism may include a pusher blade and a shoe extending forward of the pusher blade. A flat coil spring or other biasing element is operatively connected behind the pusher blade and extends through the floor of the pusher mechanism and to the front of the shelf. Alternatively, a flat coiled spring or biasing element may extend through the partition to the front of the shelf assembly. With this configuration, the pusher blades are prevented from tilting or bending back during operation.

Exemplary embodiments also include the use of a pusher mechanism, wherein products are sold on a horizontal or non-inclined shelf or surface, and a gravity feed system, or a system that uses gravity as the mechanism to urge products toward the front of the shelf.

According to an exemplary illustrative embodiment of the invention, the pusher blade may define a concave pushing surface for pushing a cylindrical product, such as a soft drink bottle or can, and keep the blade centered on the track and behind the product. Alternatively, the pusher blade may define a flat pushing surface which may also include curved ribs or similar structures at its upper edge which may also be used to push the cylindrical product.

According to another exemplary illustrative embodiment of the invention, the base plate of the pusher mechanism may include a slotted or cut-out portion to align the pusher mechanism relative to the coiled spring. Also, the base plate of the system may further include a notch or cut-out portion for receiving the flat end of the coiled spring and mounting it to the base plate. The spring tips may be placed on the ends of the coiled spring to mount the coiled spring to the base plate of the system. Alternatively, the ends of the coil spring may be mounted to the divider of the assembly.

According to yet another exemplary embodiment, an adapter for a product management display system may be positioned on a floor surface of a display system. The adapter may include a planar surface having at least two ribs extending outwardly from and spanning across the planar surface in a substantially parallel manner. The coil spring may be positioned between the parallel extending ribs. With this configuration, the product to be vended can be located on the ribs, rather than directly on the coil spring, to enhance forward movement of certain types of products, such as beverage cans.

In yet another alternative aspect, the mounting member may be used to mount the end of the coiled spring to the base plate of the system. For those systems that include spaced apart slide rails joined together by connecting ribs, the mounting members may be snap-fit or otherwise mounted on the base plate and between the slide rails.

In yet another alternative aspect, the trackless pusher system is retrofitted into an existing rack assembly. This allows the trackless pusher system to be placed in an existing shelving system as a low cost alternative to purchasing the entire trackless pusher assembly.

In another exemplary embodiment, the coil spring may be mounted to the holder. One end of the coil spring may be mounted directly to the holder, or alternatively, the end may be mounted to the holder via an adapter. The adapter may have a curved portion which is received in a correspondingly shaped curved slot in the holder to secure the end of the spring to the display assembly.

In another exemplary embodiment, the trays may be attached by a dovetail connection to form a shelf assembly. In addition, the dividers can be adjusted so that the width of the product rows can be adapted to receive products of different sizes.

According to yet another exemplary embodiment, the product management display system may be arranged in a stackable arrangement. The assembly may be provided with a first tray and a second tray, each tray having a first wall and a second wall. The first and second trays are each adapted to receive a pusher mechanism and a retainer mechanism. First and second spacers are mounted on the first and second trays for stacking the first and second trays on top of each other. The first and second spacers may be provided with a plurality of detents and the first tray and the second tray may each be provided with a plurality of correspondingly shaped receptacles for receiving the plurality of detents.

According to yet another exemplary embodiment, a product management display system for selling products on a shelf includes using a trackless pusher mechanism that travels along a surface on which products are placed and one or more dividers for dividing the products into rows. The one or more dividers may be attached to and releasably engaged to the front rail. When the one or more dividers are not engaged and held in place on the front rail, the one or more dividers and products located on the display system may be moved in a lateral direction or may be lifted from the front rail. This makes it easy to rearrange the products on the shelves. The one or more dividers may be releasably engaged to the front rail by using corresponding teeth, resilient surfaces, locking tabs, locking levers, cams, and/or by friction or press fit.

In one example, a merchandise display system includes a front rail and at least one divider configured to engage the front rail. The at least one divider includes a barrier, and the at least one divider further includes a divider wall. The at least one divider further includes a divider floor perpendicular to the divider walls, wherein the divider floor is configured to hold a product. The merchandise display system also includes a cam coupled to the divider, wherein the cam is configured to move between a first position and a second position. The at least one divider is (a) movable in a lateral direction parallel to a front rail, and (b) fixed in a direction perpendicular to the front rail when the at least one divider is engaged with the front rail and the cam is in the first position. The at least one divider is fixed (a) in a lateral direction parallel to the front rail and (b) in a direction perpendicular to the front rail when the at least one divider is engaged with the front rail and the cam is in the second position.

In one example, a merchandise display system includes a front rail and a plurality of dividers configured to attach to the front rail and divide products into rows. Each of the plurality of separators includes: a divider wall extending in a direction perpendicular to the front rail; a divider floor perpendicular to the divider walls, wherein the divider floor is configured to hold a product; and a cam coupled to the divider, wherein the cam is configured to move between a first position and a second position. Each of the plurality of dividers is (a) movable in a lateral direction parallel to the front rail, and (b) fixed in a direction perpendicular to the front rail when each of the plurality of dividers is engaged with the front rail and the cam so that each of the plurality of dividers is in the first position. In addition, each of the plurality of dividers is (a) fixed in a lateral direction parallel to the front rail and (b) fixed in a direction perpendicular to the front rail when each of the plurality of dividers is engaged with the front rail such that the cam of each of the plurality of dividers is in the second position.

In one example, a merchandise display system includes a front rail and at least one divider configured to attach to the front rail, the at least one divider comprising: a blocking member; a divider wall extending in a direction perpendicular to the front rail; a divider floor perpendicular to the divider wall, wherein the divider wall divides the divider floor into a first portion and a second portion, and each of the first portion and the second portion is configured to hold a product. The merchandise display system further comprises: a first pusher mechanism configured to slide along at least a portion of the first portion; a second pusher mechanism configured to slide along at least a portion of the second portion; and a cam coupled to the at least one spacer, the cam configured to move between a first position and a second position. The at least one spacer is movable along the front rail in a lateral direction parallel to the front rail when the cam is in the first position, and the at least one spacer resists movement along the front rail in the lateral direction parallel to the front rail when the cam is in the second position.

In one example, a merchandise display system includes a front rail and at least one divider configured to attach to the front rail, the at least one divider comprising: a stop configured to engage the front rail; a divider wall extending in a direction perpendicular to the front rail; a divider floor perpendicular to the divider walls, wherein the divider floor is configured to hold a product. The display system may also include a resilient tab coupled to the divider, the resilient tab configured to move between a first position and a second position. When the resilient tab is in the first position, the at least one divider is fixed in a lateral direction parallel to the front rail. When the resilient tab is in the second position, the at least one divider is movable in a lateral direction parallel to the front rail.

In one example, a merchandise display system includes a front rail including at least one first protrusion and at least one first recess, and at least one divider configured to attach to the front rail, the at least one divider including a divider wall and a divider floor perpendicular to the divider wall, the at least one divider further including at least one second recess and at least one second protrusion, the at least one second protrusion of the divider configured to move between a first position and a second position. The at least one divider is (a) movable in a lateral direction parallel to the front rail, and (b) fixed in a direction perpendicular to the front rail when the at least one first projection of the front rail is engaged with the at least one second recess of the divider and the at least one second projection of the divider is in the first position. The at least one divider (a) resists movement in a lateral direction parallel to the front rail, and (b) is fixed in a direction perpendicular to the front rail when the at least one first projection of the front rail is engaged with the at least one second recess of the divider and the at least one second projection of the divider is in the second position.

In one example, a merchandise display system includes a front rail including at least one first projection and at least one second projection, the at least one second projection of the front rail configured to move between a first position and a second position. The merchandise display system also includes at least one divider configured to attach to the front rail, the at least one divider including a divider wall and a divider floor perpendicular to the divider wall, the at least one divider further including at least one recess. The at least one divider is (a) movable in a lateral direction parallel to the front rail, and (b) fixed in a direction perpendicular to the front rail when the at least one first projection of the front rail is engaged with the at least one recess of the divider and the at least one second projection of the front rail is in the first position. The at least one divider is fixed (a) in a lateral direction parallel to the front rail and (b) in a direction perpendicular to the front rail when the at least one first projection of the front rail is engaged with the at least one recess of the divider and the at least one second projection of the front rail is in the second position.

In one example, a merchandise display system includes a front rail including a first projection and a second projection. The merchandise display system also includes at least one divider configured to attach to the front rail, the at least one divider including a divider wall and a divider floor perpendicular to the divider wall, the at least one divider further including a recess and a third projection. At least one of the second protrusion or the third protrusion is a movable protrusion movable between a first position and a second position. The at least one divider is (a) movable in a lateral direction parallel to the front rail, and (b) fixed in a direction perpendicular to the front rail when the first projection of the front rail engages the recess of the divider and the movable projection is in the first position. The at least one divider is (a) fixed in a lateral direction parallel to the front rail, and (b) fixed in a direction perpendicular to the front rail when the first projection of the front rail engages the recess of the divider and the movable projection is in the second position.

In one example, a merchandise display system includes a front rail that includes at least a first engagement member. The merchandise display system also includes at least one divider configured to be attached to the front rail, the at least one divider including a divider wall and a divider floor perpendicular to the divider wall, the at least one divider further including at least one second engagement member. The merchandise display system also includes a third engagement member configured to move between the first position and the second position. The at least one divider is (a) movable in a lateral direction parallel to the front rail and (b) fixed in a direction perpendicular to the front rail when the first engagement member of the front rail is engaged with the second engagement member of the divider and the third engagement member is in the first position. The at least one divider is fixed (a) in a lateral direction parallel to the front rail and (b) in a direction perpendicular to the front rail when the first engagement member of the front rail is engaged with the second engagement member of the divider and the third engagement member is in the second position.

In one example, a merchandise display system includes a front rail and at least one divider configured to engage the front rail, the at least one divider including a stop, the at least one divider further including a divider wall, the at least one divider further including a divider floor perpendicular to the divider wall, wherein the divider floor is configured to hold a product. The merchandise display system also includes a cam coupled to the divider, wherein the cam is configured to move between a first position and a second position. The at least one divider may be fixed in a direction perpendicular to the front rail when the at least one divider is engaged with the front rail. The cam may prevent the at least one divider from moving in a lateral direction parallel to the front rail when the cam is in the first position, and may allow the divider to move in the lateral direction parallel to the front rail when the cam is in the second position. The merchandise display system may include a handle to rotate the cam between the first position and the second position. The merchandise display system may include a handle to slide the cam between the first position and the second position.

In another exemplary embodiment, a merchandise display system includes a front rail defining a rail groove and a divider configured to engage the front rail. The divider includes a barrier, a divider wall, and a divider floor extending perpendicular to the divider wall. The divider base plate also includes a top surface and a bottom surface for holding a product. The merchandise display system also includes a cam rotatably coupled to the divider. The cam is configured to rotate between a first position and a second position. The cam defines a cam slider that extends below the bottom surface of the divider floor and contacts the front rail when the cam is in the first position. In operation, the divider is movable in a lateral direction parallel to the front rail when the cam is in the first position and the cam slider contacts the front rail, and the divider is fixed in the lateral direction parallel to the front rail when the cam is in the second position and contacts the rail groove of the front rail. In this embodiment, the cam is always in contact with the front rail whether the cam is in the first position or the second position, or in a position between the first and second positions.

In an alternative aspect, the cam includes a handle for rotating the cam between the first position and the second position, and the cam may include one or more cam surfaces configured to engage one or more groove walls in the guide rail groove when the cam is in the second position. Additionally, the cam slider may define an elongated flat surface. Additionally, the merchandise display system may include a pusher mechanism having a pusher surface and a pusher floor extending forward from the pusher surface. A coiled spring having a coiled end may be positioned behind the pusher surface and the free end of the spring may attach the pusher mechanism to the merchandise display system. Alternatively, the blocking member may be configured to receive the free end of the coiled spring. In yet another alternative aspect, the front rail may define a ridge configured to engage a groove in the divider.

In another exemplary embodiment, a merchandise display system includes a front rail and at least one divider configured to attach to the front rail. The at least one divider may include a stopper and a divider wall extending in a direction perpendicular to the leading track. The divider can include a divider floor perpendicular to divider walls that divide the divider floor into a first portion and a second portion, each of the first and second portions configured to hold a product. In addition, the merchandise listing system includes: a first pusher mechanism configured to slide along at least a portion of the first portion; and a second pusher mechanism configured to slide along at least a portion of the second portion. The merchandise listing system includes a cam coupled to at least one divider. The cam defines a cam slider and is configured to move between a first position and a second position. In operation, the at least one divider is movable in a lateral direction parallel to and along the front rail when the cam is in the first position and the cam slider is in contact with the front rail, and the at least one divider resists movement in the lateral direction parallel to and along the front rail when the cam is in the second position and the cam slider is not in contact with the front rail.

In one aspect, the first and second pusher mechanisms each include a pusher surface, a pusher floor extending forward from the pusher surface, and a coil spring having a coil end and a free end. The coiled end is located behind the pusher surface and the free end attaches the first and second pusher mechanisms to the merchandise display system.

In an alternative aspect, the at least one divider may define a divider engagement member and the at least one front rail may define a front rail engagement member. The divider engagement member is configured to engage the front rail engagement member. The divider engagement member may define divider teeth on at least one surface of the divider engagement member. The front rail engaging member may define front rail teeth on at least one surface of the front rail engaging member. The spacer teeth are configured to engage the front rail teeth.

In another exemplary embodiment, a merchandise display system includes a front rail and at least one divider configured to engage the front rail. The at least one divider includes a barrier, a divider wall, and a divider floor perpendicular to the divider wall. The divider floor is configured to hold a product. The merchandise display system also includes a cam coupled to the divider. The cam is configured to move between a first position and a second position. The cam defines a cam slider for lifting the divider from the front rail when the cam is in the first position. The at least one divider is secured to the front rail when the cam is in the second position and the cam slide is moved away from the front rail. In one aspect, the at least one divider is movable in the plane of the shelf only in a transverse direction parallel to the front rail, and when the at least one divider is engaged with the front rail, the at least one divider is fixed in the plane of the shelf in all directions except the direction parallel to the front rail. In another aspect, the cam may include a handle to rotate the cam between the first position and the second position. Additionally, the cam slider may define an elongated flat surface having an edge that allows slidable movement of the cam slider relative to the front rail.

In another exemplary embodiment, a merchandise display system may include a front rail and at least one divider configured to engage the front rail. The divider can include a barrier, a divider wall, and a divider floor perpendicular to the divider wall, the divider wall configured to hold a product. The front lock may be coupled to the partition. In one aspect, the front lock may be configured to rotate, pivot, or move between a first position and a second position. When in the first position, the front lock may allow slidable movement of the divider relative to the front rail. In another aspect, the front lock may lift the divider upward off of the front rail. When in the second position, the front lock locks the divider to the front rail and prevents slidable movement between the divider and the front rail.

In another exemplary embodiment, the merchandise display system may include a divider secured to the support structure. The divider may include a divider wall and a divider floor. The divider wall may extend upwardly from the divider floor, and the divider floor may include a top surface. The system may also include a blocking member that is movable by rotation between a folded position and an upright position without the need for a rotating biasing element. The product positioned on the top surface of the bottom panel of the divider can contact the stop as the product moves toward the front end of the divider and rotates the stop from the folded position to the upright position. The stop member may be configured to stop forward movement of the product when the stop member is in the upright position. The system may include a rotational mounting structure to which the movable barrier is coupled. The swivel mounting structure may be removably attached to the forward end of the divider.

In another exemplary embodiment, the merchandise display system may be used in conjunction with a product tray for refilling the system with product. The product tray may include a bottom surface, a right sidewall, a left sidewall, and an alignment flap. The alignment flap may include a proximal end, a distal end, a right edge, and a left edge. The tab width of the alignment tab may be defined between the right edge and the left edge. The proximal end of the alignment flap may be connected to the bottom surface of the product tray, and the alignment flap may be configured such that at least a portion of the width of the flap is approximately equal to the width of a product stored in the product tray. The alignment flap may be positioned between opposing divider walls of the merchandise display system with a product pocket defined between the opposing divider walls. The alignment tabs align the product tray and the products stored in the product tray with the product pockets so that the products stored in the product tray may slide from the product tray into the product pockets of the merchandise display system.

In another exemplary embodiment, a merchandise display system may include a divider configured to be secured to a support structure, wherein the divider includes a front end and a rear end. The divider includes a divider wall and a divider floor, the divider wall extending upwardly from the divider floor. The merchandise display system may further include: a pusher mechanism including a biasing device and configured to slide along the divider floor to move the product toward the front end; a barrier configured to be positioned proximate to a front end of the divider such that a product positioned on a top surface of the divider floor contacts the barrier as the product moves toward the front end of the divider; and a low product indicator device comprising a raised portion, wherein the raised portion is configured to extend in front of the barrier when the amount of product located on the top surface of the divider floor is low.

In another exemplary embodiment, a merchandise display system may include a divider configured to be secured to a support structure, wherein the divider includes a front end and a rear end. The divider includes a divider wall and a divider floor, the divider wall extending upwardly from the divider floor. The merchandise display system may further include a pusher mechanism including a biasing device and configured to slide along the divider shoe to move the product toward the front end; a barrier configured to be positioned proximate to a front end of the divider such that a product located on a top surface of the divider floor contacts the barrier as the product moves toward the front end of the divider; and a low product indicator device comprising a raised portion, wherein the raised portion is configured to extend in front of the barrier when the amount of product located on the top surface of the divider floor is low. The low product indicator device may be engaged with the pusher such that the low product indicator is configured to slide relative to the divider. The low product indicator device may include a predetermined stop point, and the low product indicator device may be configured to disengage from the pusher at the predetermined stop point.

In another exemplary embodiment, a merchandise display system may include a divider configured to be secured to a support structure, wherein the divider includes a front end and a rear end. The divider includes a divider wall and a divider floor, the divider wall extending upwardly from the divider floor. The merchandise display system may further include a pusher mechanism including a biasing device and configured to slide along the divider shoe to move the product toward the front end; and a barrier configured to be positioned proximate to the front end of the divider such that a product positioned on the top surface of the divider floor contacts the barrier as the product moves toward the front end of the divider. The merchandise display system may further include a low product indicator device having: a sidewall having a front edge, a rear edge, and a bottom edge; a rear wall joined at a rear edge to the side wall; a bottom wall joined to the side wall at a bottom edge; and a convex portion. The protrusion portion may be configured to extend to the front of the blocking member when the number of products positioned on the top surface of the bottom plate of the partitioning member is low. The low product indicator device may be engaged with the pusher such that the low product indicator is configured to slide relative to the divider. The low product indicator device may include a predetermined stop point, and the low product indicator device may be configured to disengage from the pusher at the predetermined stop point.

In another exemplary embodiment, a merchandise system may include a divider configured to be secured to a support structure, wherein the divider includes a front end and a rear end; the partition includes a partition wall and a partition floor, the partition wall extending upward from the partition floor; a pusher mechanism including a biasing device and configured to slide along the divider shoe to move the product toward the front end; a barrier configured to be positioned proximate to a front end of the divider such that a product positioned on a top surface of the divider floor contacts the barrier as the product moves toward the front end of the divider; a low product indicator device includes a side wall, a front wall, and a bottom wall. The biasing means may comprise a coiled spring, and the coiled spring passes above a bottom wall of the low product indicator means and below a front wall of the low product indicator means.

The low product indicator may further include a raised portion, wherein the raised portion is configured to extend in front of the barrier when the amount of product located on the top surface of the divider floor is low.

The low product indicator device may be configured to move forward with the pusher as the product closest to the front end is removed until a predetermined number of products are removed from the product display. The predetermined number of products may be adjustable. The bottom wall of the low product indicator device may be configured to slide under the pusher when all of the product is removed from the merchandise display system. The low volume product indicator device may be removably engaged with the merchandise display system.

The barrier of the merchandise display system may be transparent and the front wall of the low product indicator device may be visible through the barrier when the amount of product on the top surface of the divider floor is low.

In another exemplary embodiment, a merchandise display system may include: a divider configured to be secured to a support structure, wherein the divider includes a front end and a rear end; the partition includes a partition wall and a partition floor, the partition wall extending upward from the partition floor; a pusher mechanism including a biasing device and configured to slide along the divider shoe to move the product toward the front end; a barrier configured to be positioned proximate to a front end of the divider such that a product located on a top surface of the divider floor contacts the barrier as the product moves toward the front end of the divider; a low volume product indicator device. The low product indicator device may be configured to move forward with the pusher as the product closest to the front end is removed until a predetermined number of products are removed from the merchandise display. The predetermined number of products may be adjustable.

The low product indicator device can further include a raised portion, and wherein the raised portion is configured to extend forward of the barrier when the amount of product located on the top surface of the divider floor is low.

The barrier may be transparent and the front wall of the low product indicator device may be visible through the barrier when the amount of product located on the top surface of the divider floor is low.

The low volume product indicator device may be removably engaged with the merchandise display system. The low product indicator device may include a side wall, a front wall, and a bottom wall. The biasing means may comprise a coiled spring; and the coiled spring passes above the bottom wall of the low product indicator device and below the front wall of the low product indicator device. The bottom wall of the low product indicator device may be configured to slide under the pusher when all of the product is removed from the merchandise display system.

In another exemplary embodiment, a merchandise display system may include: a divider configured to be secured to a support structure, wherein the divider includes a front end and a rear end; the partition comprises a partition wall and a partition bottom plate, wherein the partition wall extends upwards from the partition bottom plate; a pusher mechanism including a biasing device and configured to slide along the divider shoe to move the product toward the front end; a barrier configured to be positioned proximate to a front end of the divider such that a product positioned on a top surface of the divider floor contacts the barrier as the product moves toward the front end of the divider; a low product indicator device includes a side wall, a front wall, and a bottom wall. The biasing device may comprise a coiled spring, and the coiled spring passes above a bottom wall of the low product indicator device and below a front wall of the low product indicator device. The low product indicator device may be configured to move forward with the pusher as the product closest to the front end is removed until a predetermined number of products are removed from the merchandise display.

The low product indicator device may further include a convex portion, and the convex portion may be configured to extend to the front of the blocking member when the amount of the product located on the top surface of the bottom plate of the partition is low.

Drawings

FIG. 1 depicts an isometric exploded view of an exemplary embodiment of a product management display system of the present invention.

Fig. 2 depicts an isometric view of an exemplary pusher mechanism mounted to an exemplary tray or product channel of the present invention.

Fig. 3 depicts another isometric view of the system of fig. 2 with a product placed in the system.

Fig. 4 depicts another isometric view of the system of fig. 2, with a plurality of products placed in the system.

Fig. 5 depicts an isometric rear view of the system of fig. 4.

Fig. 6 depicts an alternative embodiment of the tray or product channel of the present invention.

FIG. 7 depicts an exemplary tip of an end of a coiled spring that may be used with the product management display system of the present invention.

Fig. 8 depicts the exemplary end of fig. 7 mounted to a surface of a tray or product channel.

FIG. 9 depicts the exemplary tip of FIG. 7 mounted to an end of a coiled spring.

FIG. 10 depicts the exemplary tip of FIG. 7 mounted to an end of a coiled spring.

FIG. 11 depicts an isometric view of an alternative exemplary embodiment of the product management display system of the present invention.

Fig. 12 depicts another isometric view of the system of fig. 11.

Fig. 13 depicts a front view of the system of fig. 11.

Fig. 14 depicts a top view of the system of fig. 11.

Fig. 15 depicts a rear view of the system of fig. 11.

Fig. 16 depicts an isometric view of an adapter that may be used with the present invention.

Fig. 17 depicts a front view of the adapter of fig. 16.

FIG. 18 depicts an exemplary installation of an adapter of the present invention.

Fig. 19 depicts an isometric view of the installed adapter of the present invention.

Fig. 20 depicts a front view of the installed adapter of the present invention.

FIG. 21 depicts an isometric view of an alternative exemplary embodiment of the product management display system of the present invention.

FIG. 22 depicts an isometric bottom view of an exemplary mounting member that may be used to mount the end of a coiled spring to the floor of a display system.

Fig. 23 depicts an isometric top view of the example mounting member of fig. 22.

FIG. 24 depicts the example mounting member of FIG. 22 mounted to an end of a coiled spring mounted to an example pusher blade.

FIG. 25 depicts another view of the example mounting member of FIG. 22 mounted to an end of a coil spring mounted to an example pusher blade.

Fig. 26 depicts the example mounting member of fig. 22 with an attached coil spring mounted to a base plate of the system.

Fig. 27 depicts the example mounting member of fig. 22 mounted on a system backplane.

FIG. 28 depicts an isometric view of an alternative exemplary embodiment of the product management display system of the present invention.

Fig. 29 depicts a close-up isometric view of the tray of the exemplary embodiment of fig. 28.

Fig. 29A depicts a cross-sectional view of the exemplary embodiment of fig. 28, showing a first method of securing.

Fig. 29B depicts a cross-sectional view of the exemplary embodiment of fig. 28, showing a second method of securing.

Fig. 30 depicts a close-up isometric view of the embodiment of fig. 28, showing rivets attaching the spring to the tray.

Fig. 31 depicts an isometric view of the embodiment of fig. 28 assembled in a pre-existing wire holder.

Fig. 32 depicts an isometric view of the embodiment of fig. 28 assembled in a pre-existing wire holder.

Fig. 33 depicts an isometric view of an exemplary embodiment of a display system.

Fig. 34 depicts an isometric view of an exemplary embodiment of a display system.

Fig. 35 depicts an isometric view of an exemplary embodiment of an adapter.

Fig. 36 depicts an isometric view of an exemplary embodiment of a retainer.

FIG. 37 depicts a side view of an exemplary embodiment of a display system.

Fig. 38 depicts an isometric view of an exemplary embodiment of a display system.

Fig. 39 depicts an isometric view of an exemplary embodiment of a display system.

Fig. 40 depicts an isometric view of an exemplary embodiment of a display system.

Fig. 41A depicts a cross-sectional side view of an exemplary embodiment of a divider.

Fig. 41B depicts a front view of an exemplary embodiment of a display system.

FIG. 41C depicts a close-up view of the cross-section of FIG. 41B.

Fig. 41D depicts a front view of an exemplary embodiment of a separator.

Fig. 42 depicts an isometric view of an exemplary embodiment of a display system.

Fig. 43 depicts an isometric view of an exemplary embodiment of a display system.

FIG. 44 depicts an isometric view of an exemplary embodiment of a product management display system.

FIG. 45 depicts another isometric view of an exemplary embodiment of a product management display system having products in the system.

FIG. 46 depicts a top view of another exemplary embodiment of a product management display system with products in the system.

FIG. 47 depicts an isometric rear view of an exemplary embodiment of a product management display system with products in the system.

Fig. 48 depicts an isometric view of an exemplary embodiment of a pusher mechanism mounted to a divider.

FIG. 49 depicts another isometric view of the divider and pusher mechanism assembled to the product management display system.

FIG. 50 depicts an isometric view of yet another exemplary embodiment of a product management display system.

FIG. 51 depicts another isometric view of the exemplary embodiment of the product management display system of FIG. 50 without a product.

FIG. 52 depicts an exploded isometric view of the exemplary embodiment of the product management display system of FIG. 50.

FIG. 53 depicts an isometric view of yet another exemplary embodiment of a product management display system.

Fig. 54 depicts an isometric view of an exemplary attachment of a pusher spring to a shelf of the product management display system of fig. 53.

Fig. 55 depicts an isometric view of an exemplary attachment of a pusher spring to a shelf of the product management display system of fig. 53.

Fig. 56 depicts an isometric view of an exemplary attachment of a pusher spring to a shelf of the product management display system of fig. 53.

Fig. 57 depicts an isometric view of an exemplary attachment of a pusher spring to a shelf of the product management display system of fig. 53.

FIG. 58 depicts an isometric view of an exemplary embodiment of a product management display system according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 59 depicts an isometric view of the exemplary product management display system of FIG. 58.

Fig. 60 depicts an isometric view of an example pusher mechanism according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure.

Fig. 61 depicts a partial isometric view of an example divider according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure.

Fig. 62 depicts an isometric view of an example spacer and pusher mechanism according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure.

Fig. 63 depicts a partial isometric view of an exemplary front portion of a divider according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure.

Fig. 64 depicts a partial isometric view of an exemplary front portion of a front rail according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure.

Fig. 65 depicts a partial isometric view of an exemplary connection between a divider and a front rail according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure.

Fig. 66 depicts a side view of an example divider and front rail according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure.

Fig. 67A-C depict side views of an example divider attached to a front rail according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure.

Fig. 68A-C depict side views of an example divider attached to a front rail according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure.

Fig. 69A depicts an isometric view of an example rail mounting clip for a front rail in accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure.

Fig. 69B depicts an isometric view of an example front rail in accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure.

Fig. 70 depicts an isometric view of an example front rail and rail mounting clip, according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure.

Fig. 71 depicts an isometric view of an example front rail according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure.

Fig. 72 depicts an isometric view of an example spacer and pusher mechanism according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure.

Fig. 73 depicts an isometric view of an example spacer and pusher mechanism, according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure.

Fig. 74 depicts a partial isometric view of an example divider according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure.

Fig. 75 depicts a partial isometric view of an example front rail in accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure.

Fig. 76A and 76B depict partial isometric views of an example front rail and cam lever control rod according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 77 depicts a front exploded view of an example product management display system, according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure.

Fig. 78 depicts an exploded rear view of an exemplary product management display system, in accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure.

Fig. 79A-C depict side views of an example front rail and divider in accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 80 depicts an isometric view of an example product management display system, according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure.

81A-B depict partial side views of an example front rail and divider in accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure.

Fig. 82A-C depict partial side views of an example front rail and divider in accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure.

83A-C depict partial side views of an example front rail and divider in accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 84A-F depict isometric views of an example product management display system in accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure.

Fig. 85 depicts a side view of an example divider and front rail according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 86A-L depict views of components of an example product management display system, according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure.

Fig. 87A-C depict side views of an example divider and front rail in accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure.

Fig. 88A-B depict isometric views of an example divider according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure.

Fig. 89A-C depict side views of an example divider attached to a front rail according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure.

Fig. 90A-F depict views of an example divider attached to a front rail according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure.

Fig. 91A depicts a view of an example divider and rear rail according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure.

Fig. 92 depicts an exploded view of an example divider and track, according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure.

Fig. 93A-B depict views of an example divider mounted to a front rail according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure.

Fig. 94A-C depict cross-sectional views of movement of an exemplary cam for use with a divider and a front rail in accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 95 depicts a top right perspective view of some aspects of an exemplary assembly of a merchandise display system.

Fig. 96A and 96B are top right perspective views of some aspects of exemplary components of a merchandise display system.

FIG. 97 is a top right perspective exploded view of some aspects of exemplary components of the merchandise display system.

98A-C are side views of some aspects of exemplary components of a merchandise display system.

99A-C are side views of some aspects of exemplary components of a merchandise display system.

100A-D are top left perspective views of some aspects of exemplary components of a merchandise display system.

Fig. 101A is a top right perspective view of some aspects of an example product tray.

Fig. 101B is a top view of some aspects of an example product tray.

101C-F are top left perspective views of some aspects of an example product tray for use with example components of a merchandise display system.

FIG. 102A is a top right perspective view of some aspects of exemplary components of a merchandise display system.

FIG. 102B is a top right perspective exploded view of some aspects of exemplary components of a merchandise display system.

Fig. 102C and 102D are side views of some aspects of exemplary components of a merchandise display system.

FIG. 103A is a top front right perspective view of some aspects of an exemplary assembly of a swivel mounting structure of a merchandise display system.

FIG. 103B is a top, rear, right perspective view of some aspects of an exemplary assembly of a swivel mounting structure of a merchandise display system.

Fig. 103C is a rear view of some aspects of an exemplary assembly of a swivel mounting structure of a merchandise display system.

Fig. 103D is a top view of some aspects of an exemplary assembly of a swivel mounting structure of a merchandise display system.

Fig. 103E is a right side view of some aspects of an exemplary assembly of a swivel mounting structure of a merchandise display system.

FIG. 104A is a top, right side perspective exploded view of some aspects of exemplary components of a merchandise display system.

Fig. 104B is a top right perspective view of some aspects of an exemplary assembly of a swivel mounting structure of a merchandise display system.

Fig. 104C is a bottom right perspective view of some aspects of an exemplary assembly of a swivel mounting structure of a merchandise display system.

Fig. 104D is a front view of some aspects of an exemplary assembly of a rotary mounting structure of a merchandise display system.

FIG. 104E is a top view of some aspects of an exemplary assembly of a rotary mounting structure of a merchandise display system.

Fig. 104F is a left side view of some aspects of an exemplary assembly of a swivel mounting structure of a merchandise display system.

Fig. 104G is a bottom view of some aspects of an exemplary assembly of a swivel mounting structure of a merchandise display system.

105A-D are side views of some aspects of exemplary components of a merchandise display system.

FIG. 106A is a top right perspective exploded view of some aspects of exemplary components of a merchandise display system.

FIG. 106B is a side view of some aspects of exemplary components of a merchandise display system.

FIG. 107A is a perspective view of some aspects of an exemplary assembly of a merchandise display system including a low volume product indicator system.

FIG. 107B is a perspective view of some aspects of an exemplary assembly of a merchandise display system including a low volume product indicator system.

Fig. 107C is a perspective view of some aspects of an exemplary component of a low product indicator system.

Fig. 107D is a perspective view of some aspects of an exemplary component of a low product indicator system.

Fig. 107E is a perspective view of some aspects of an exemplary component of a low product indicator system.

Fig. 107F is a perspective view of some aspects of an exemplary component of a low product indicator system.

FIG. 108A is a perspective view of some aspects of an exemplary assembly of a merchandise display system including a low volume product indicator system.

FIG. 108B is a front view of some aspects of an exemplary assembly of a merchandise display system including a low volume product indicator system.

FIG. 109A is a perspective view of some aspects of an exemplary assembly of a merchandise display system including a low volume product indicator system.

FIG. 109B is a perspective view of some aspects of an exemplary assembly of a merchandise display system including a low volume product indicator system.

FIG. 109C is a perspective view of some aspects of an exemplary assembly of a merchandise display system including a low volume product indicator system.

FIG. 109D is a perspective view of some aspects of an exemplary assembly of a merchandise display system including a low volume product indicator system.

FIG. 110A is a perspective view of some aspects of an exemplary assembly of a merchandise display system including a low volume product indicator system.

FIG. 110B is a side view of some aspects of an exemplary assembly of a merchandise display system including a low volume product indicator system.

FIG. 110C is a side view of some aspects of an exemplary assembly of a merchandise display system including a low volume product indicator system.

FIG. 110D is a side view of some aspects of an exemplary assembly of a merchandise display system including a low volume product indicator system.

FIG. 110E is a side view of some aspects of an exemplary assembly of a merchandise display system including a low volume product indicator system.

FIG. 110F is a side view of some aspects of an exemplary assembly of a merchandise display system including a low volume product indicator system.

FIG. 110G is a side view of some aspects of an exemplary assembly of a merchandise display system including a low volume product indicator system.

FIG. 110H is a side view of some aspects of an exemplary assembly of a merchandise display system including a low volume product indicator system.

FIG. 110I is a side view of some aspects of an exemplary assembly of a merchandise display system including a low volume product indicator system.

FIG. 110J is a side view of some aspects of an exemplary assembly of a merchandise display system including a low volume product indicator system.

FIG. 110K is a side view of some aspects of an exemplary assembly of a merchandise display system including a low volume product indicator system.

FIG. 110L is a side view of some aspects of an exemplary assembly of a merchandise display system including a low volume product indicator system.

FIG. 110M is a side view of some aspects of an exemplary component of a merchandise display system including a low volume product indicator system.

FIG. 110N is a side view of some aspects of an exemplary component of a merchandise display system including a low volume product indicator system.

FIG. 110O is a side view of some aspects of an exemplary component of a merchandise display system including a low volume product indicator system.

Fig. 111A is a perspective view of a low product indicator device according to some aspects of the present disclosure.

Fig. 111B is a perspective view of a low product indicator device according to some aspects of the present disclosure.

Fig. 112A is a perspective view of some aspects of an exemplary assembly of a merchandise display system including a low volume product indicator system according to some aspects of the present disclosure.

Fig. 112B is a perspective view of some aspects of an exemplary assembly of a merchandise display system including a low volume product indicator system according to some aspects of the present disclosure.

Fig. 112C is a perspective view of some aspects of an exemplary assembly of a merchandise display system including a low volume product indicator system according to some aspects of the present disclosure.

Before the embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangements of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of "including" and "comprising" and variations thereof is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items and equivalents thereof. Furthermore, the use of the terms "mounted," "mounted," or "mounting" is meant to broadly encompass any technique or method of directly or indirectly mounting, attaching, joining, or coupling one component to another.

Detailed Description

The present invention may be embodied in various forms. Referring to the drawings, wherein like numerals indicate like elements, there is shown in FIG. 1 an isometric exploded view of an exemplary embodiment. The exemplary merchandising system 10 includes a product dispensing tray 12 having an exemplary trackless pusher mechanism 14 mounted in the product dispensing tray 12. As described in more detail below, pusher mechanism 14 will fit within tray 12 and will slide along the surface of the tray without the use of rails, tracks, or guides that are typically used to retain conventional pusher mechanisms on the tray or tray floor. The pusher mechanism defines a pusher blade and a pusher shoe extending forward of the pusher blade. The coil spring may extend through the pusher floor and be operatively connected to the tray at a forward position on the tray. In one aspect of the invention, the product to be sold may be placed in a tray in front of the pusher blade and may be located on the pusher floor and on the coil spring. With this configuration, the weight of the product will prevent the impeller blades from tilting to ensure proper pushing of the product. In addition, problems associated with debris or viscous materials have been eliminated, which hamper the effectiveness of known pusher systems using rails, or guides. Other aspects, embodiments and features of the invention and their teachings are set forth in more detail below.

The exemplary tray 12 may define a surface 16 and one or more divider panels or partitions 18 to divide the tray into a plurality of rows for placement of products. In an alternative aspect, the tray 12 may be a shelf or any other surface on which products may be placed for sale. The surface 16 may be a solid surface or a surface defining a plurality of spaced apart holes 20 separated by a plurality of support ribs 22. The holes 20 and ribs 22 provide the following surfaces: the surface allows slidable movement of products placed on the surface and also allows liquids and dirt to pass through the aperture 20 so that liquids and dirt do not collect on the surface 16. Surface 16 may be made of any suitable material that allows for sliding movement of the product over surface 16. Other surface or floor configurations are known and may be used with the principles of the present invention.

As shown in fig. 9 and 10, the surface 16 may define a rounded end 24, the rounded end 24 including a notch or cut-out portion 26. The end 24 may be rounded to match the shape of the product placed on the tray. For example, the depicted end 24 is rounded or defines a semi-circular shape to match the contour of bottles or cans that may be placed in the tray and on the end 24. Other shapes of the end may be used with the present invention depending on the product to be sold.

The slot 26 may be used to receive and mount an end 29 of a coiled spring 30 or similar biasing element. The notches 26 may define opposing angled edge surfaces 32 joined by edges 34. The edge 34 is preferably centered over the width of the product rows formed in the tray 12 and extends perpendicular to the length of the tray. This configuration will center the coiled spring 30 relative to the tray 12 and will allow the spring to extend in a substantially parallel manner relative to the length of the tray. In other words, the illustrated edge 34 of the slot 26 will allow the spring 30 to extend along the length of the tray 12 at or near the center of the row of products formed by the tray. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the location and configuration of the notches may vary depending on the desired location of the spring.

The coiled spring 30 may define an end 29, the end 29 being configured to be placed on an edge 34 across the slot 26. In one aspect, end 29 of the coiled spring may be V-shaped and act as a hook such that end 29 will wrap around edge 34 with a portion of end 29 of the coiled spring extending below end 24 of surface 16. This structure allows easy mounting of the coil spring to the tray.

In another aspect, and referring to fig. 7, a spring tip 60 may be added to the end 29 of the spring 30 to assist in mounting the spring to the system. The spring tip 60 may define a variety of shapes and configurations depending on the configuration of the tray and the surface to which the spring end is to be attached. The spring tip 60 may be permanently attached to the end 29 of the coiled spring 30 or may be removable to allow for interchange or replacement of the spring tip 60. The spring tip 60 may be made of plastic and may define one or more apertures. The hole 61 may be used to receive the end 29 of the coiled spring 30. The second aperture 63 may be used to receive a mating tongue or mounting member 65 extending from the surface 16 of the tray 12, as described below. With this configuration, the end 29 of the coiled spring 30 may be operatively connected to the tray 12.

In another aspect, the end 29 of the coiled spring may be snap-fit into a hole formed in the surface 16, or may be otherwise inserted and secured into a hole or opening in the tray, thereby securing the end 29 of the coiled spring 30 in place.

Referring back to fig. 1, the divider 18 may also be used to divide the product into rows. The dividers 18 extend generally upwardly from the surface 16 and, as shown in fig. 1, may be positioned on opposite sides of the surface 16. Alternatively, the divider 18 may be positioned at any desired location on the tray 12 or on the surface 16. The divider 18 may form a unitary structure with the surface 16, or the divider 18 may be removable to provide additional flexibility to the system. Depending on the system, the divider may be attached to the front rail or the rear rail. The dividers 18 can define a variety of configurations and can extend upwardly any desired distance to provide a desired divider height between rows of products to be sold. The height may be adjusted by adding a divider extender or the like.

Located at the front of the tray 12 and extending between the dividers 18 can be one or more product retaining members 44. The product retaining members 44 serve as front retaining walls or bars to retain the products in the tray 12 and prevent the products from falling out of the tray 12. These components are also configured to allow easy removal of the front most product located in the tray 12. The product retaining member 44 may be one or more curved shaped retaining ribs as described in fig. 1. These retaining ribs as shown may extend from one divider to another to join the dividers. Retaining ribs may also extend partially between the dividers, as also shown as ribs 46 in fig. 1, to help retain the product in the tray. Alternatively, as shown in fig. 6, the product retaining member 44 may be a curvilinear solid retaining wall 48 extending between the dividers. The retaining wall 48 may be transparent or translucent to allow product visualization on the shelf. In another aspect, the retaining wall 48 may also extend partially between the partitions 18. In yet another embodiment shown in fig. 11-15, retaining wall 100 may be attached to a surface of a tray without connecting to a divider. In this embodiment, the retaining wall 100 may form an opening 102 defined by an upper member 104, opposing curved side walls 106 further defining an angled edge 108, and a floor member 110. The side walls 106 may also be straight rather than curved depending on the system. The ends of the coiled spring may also be snap-fit into the base plate 110 or otherwise attached to the tray using any of the techniques described herein. Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that product retaining member 44 may have a variety of shapes and configurations, and that the configuration depicted is merely an exemplary embodiment of these numerous configurations.

Referring back to fig. 1, exemplary trackless pusher mechanism 14 defines pusher blade 50 and pusher shoe 52. The impeller blades 50 and the impeller shoe 52 may be formed as a single unitary structure or may be separate structures that are joined together using known techniques. Additionally, the impeller blades 50 and the impeller shoe 52 may be made of any known suitable plastic or metal material. Any known reinforcement technique may be used to reinforce the pusher blade and pusher shoe.

In one aspect, the pusher blade 50 forms a curved shaped pusher surface or face 54 that is configured to match the shape of the product to be sold, such as a plastic bottle or can containing a beverage, as shown in FIGS. 3-5. The curved pusher surface 54 allows the pusher to remain centrally aligned with the last product in the tray. This configuration reduces friction and drag between the pusher and the divider wall. In an alternative aspect, the pusher surface or face may be a flat surface. In yet another aspect, the flat pusher surface may be accompanied by a curved-shaped rib positioned near or at the top of the pusher blade and may be used to center and align the product in the tray in a manner similar to the curved-shaped pusher surface 54 depicted in fig. 1. The curved shaped ribs may define other shapes and configurations that allow a tubular product or similarly shaped product to be pushed into the tray as appropriate. Advertising, product logos, or other product information may be placed on the pusher member surface 54.

Located behind the pusher surface or face 54 may be one or more support members 58, such as ribs, walls, or gussets. The support member 58 is configured to support the pusher face 54 and further connect the pusher blade 50 to the pusher floor 52. As shown in fig. 5, located between the support members 58 is a coil spring 30, and more specifically a helical end 57 for urging the pusher blade 50 forward and along the tray 12, as is understood in the art. Any technique for operatively connecting the coil spring to the impeller blade 50 may be used with the present invention.

As shown in fig. 1, the pusher floor 52 may be positioned below the pusher blade 50 and may extend forward of the pusher surface 54 of the pusher blade. The pusher floor 52 may extend any predetermined distance at any predetermined angle. For example, the pusher floor 52 may extend substantially perpendicular to the pusher surface 54. In an exemplary embodiment, the pusher floor 52 may extend a sufficient distance to allow one product (such as a single bottle or jar) to rest on the pusher floor. In another aspect, the pusher shoe 52 can be configured to allow more than one product to be placed on the pusher shoe. The pusher floor 52 may define any shape, including the depicted circular shape, and may define any product retention features, such as ribs, walls, etc., on the surface of the pusher floor to further retain product on the pusher floor.

As can be seen in fig. 2, the pusher shoe 52 may define an elongated channel, groove or depression 59 that is sized, shaped and configured to seat the coil spring 30. In exemplary embodiments, the channel or groove 59 may extend across the bottom plate 52 and in a substantially perpendicular manner with respect to the pusher blade 50. In an alternative aspect, as shown in fig. 19, the groove or channel can extend partially or across the entire pusher floor 52. Such a configuration allows the impeller blades 50 to be properly aligned and positioned in the tray. The groove 59 may define a depth that matches or exceeds the thickness of the coil spring 30. With this configuration, the coil spring 30 will seat at or below the pusher floor surface so that the product will not seat directly on the coil spring, but rather such product will seat on the pusher floor surface. As shown in fig. 19, the pusher shoe may include holes and openings through which debris or other items may pass. Alternatively, the base plate may be a solid surface.

In another aspect of the invention, as shown in FIGS. 16-20, an adapter 180 may be positioned on surface 16. Referring to fig. 16 and 17, the adapter 180 may include one or more raised ribs 182 on which the product may be seated 182. The raised ribs 182 may extend longitudinally along the length of the adapter 180. The adapter 180 may be a flat extrusion of plastic material (or any other suitable material) that defines a flat surface 184, with one or more ribs 182 extending outwardly from the flat surface 184. The adapter 180 may define a rounded end 185 and include a notch or cut-out portion 186 through or across which the coil spring may extend. The rounded end 185 may be configured to match the shape of the product placed on the tray. Other shapes of the end 185, notch 186 and adapter 180 may be used with the present invention depending on the product to be sold. The adapter 180 may be a separate insertable piece or may be a piece integrally formed with the surface 16.

Referring to fig. 18, the adapter 180 can be easily inserted onto the surface 16 and between the partitions 18. Referring to fig. 19, once adapter 180 is installed, pusher mechanism 14 may be positioned on top of adapter 180 and may slide freely over ribs 182 of adapter 180. The coil spring 30 may extend in a parallel manner between the ribs 182 and may be seated at or below the top surface of the ribs 182, as more clearly shown in fig. 20. With this configuration, a product to be sold can be seated on the rib 182 and slid along the rib 182 instead of on the coil spring 30.

In an alternative aspect, the ribs 182 may be one or more raised flanges, or may be a series of fingers for facilitating movement of the product over the surface 16. In yet another alternative embodiment, the ribs 182 may be product moving members, such as runners or one or more rollers or rolling members that allow product to roll over the rolling members and toward the front of the product display system. Exemplary roller assemblies include those disclosed and described in U.S. application serial No.11/257,718, filed on 25/10/2005 and assigned to RTC Industries, Inc, which is incorporated herein by reference. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, there are many possible techniques that may be used with the pusher mechanisms described to facilitate movement of products on the shelves or floors.

The underside of the pusher shoe 52 may be a smooth flat surface that will slide freely along the surface 16. Alternatively, similar to the above, the pusher shoe 52 may include beads, slides, rollers, etc. that allow the pusher shoe to slide along the surface while lifting the pusher shoe from the surface 16. In another alternative embodiment, the underside of the pusher shoe may be configured with a rail mounting member to allow the pusher to be mounted to a rail or rail, as is understood in the art.

The pusher floor further defines a notch or cut-out portion 62, through which notch or cut-out portion 62 the coil spring 30 passes. The end 29 of the coiled spring 30 will pass through the recess 62 and through the slot 26 of the surface 16 and will be mounted to the tray using any of the techniques described above.

In use, when the pusher mechanism 14 is pushed rearwardly in the tray 12, the end 29 of the coiled spring 30 will be held in place as described above, and the coiled end 57 of the spring 30 will begin to unwind behind the pusher blade 50. If pusher 14 is allowed to move forward in tray 14, such as when removing product from the front of the tray, coiled end 57 of spring 30 will coil and force pusher blade 50 to move forward in tray 12, pushing product toward the front of the tray.

In alternative embodiments, the coiled spring 30 may extend below and beneath the pusher floor 52, rather than above and across the pusher floor, as shown in the figures. With this configuration, the groove 59 and the recess 62 may not be required.

The coil spring 30 may be any biasing element including, but not limited to, a flat coil spring commonly used with pusher systems. Depending on the desired application, the present invention may use one or more coil springs to urge pusher member mechanism 14 forward, depending on the desired application. The coil tension of the spring 30 may also vary depending on the particular application.

Referring to FIG. 2, trackless pusher mechanism 14 is shown mounted on tray 12. As shown, the pusher mechanism 14 is fitted in the tray 12 between the dividers 18. The end 29 of the coiled spring 30 extends through a recess in the pusher floor and is mounted to the tray as described above. In use, the pusher mechanism 14 will slide along the surface 16 of the tray 12 without the use of rails, guides, or guides. As shown in fig. 2, pusher mechanism 14 is shown in the forward position.

Referring to fig. 3, pusher mechanism 14 is shown marketing one product 70 in merchandising system 10. The product retention feature 44 prevents the product from tipping from the tray. Product 70 may be any product to be sold that includes the depicted soft drink bottle. As shown in this figure, product 70 is seated on the pusher floor 52 and coiled spring 30, with the coiled spring 30 extending below the product. The weight of the product on the floor 52 and the positioning of the product on the spring 30 prevent the blade 50 from tipping in the tray 12.

Referring to fig. 4, pusher mechanism 14 is shown selling a plurality of products 70 in merchandising system 10. As shown in this figure, the product next to the pusher blade 50 rests on the pusher floor 52 and the coil spring 30 that extends below the product. Other products will be located on the coil spring 30 and the coil spring 30 will extend below these products. Alternatively, the adapter 180 may be positioned in the system, in which case the product may be located on the ribs 182 of the adapter rather than on the coil spring. Also, the weight of the product on the pusher floor 52 and the positioning of the product on the springs 30 prevent the blade 50 from tipping in the tray. In use, when one product is removed from the front of the tray near product retaining member 44, pusher mechanism 14 pushes the remaining products in tray 12 forward (by the urging of coiled spring 30) until the forward-most product contacts product retaining member 44. When additional product is removed, pusher mechanism 14 will continue to push the remaining product toward product retaining member 44.

Referring to fig. 5, a rear view of pusher mechanism 14 shows pusher mechanism 14 selling a plurality of products 70 in merchandising system 10. Again, the product next to the pusher blade 50 rests on the pusher floor 52 and the coil spring 30 extending below the product. Other products will be located on the coiled springs which will extend below the products. Alternatively, the adapter 180 may be positioned in the system, in which case the product may be located on the ribs 182 of the adapter rather than the coil spring. When a product is removed from the front of the tray near product retention member 44, coiled end 57 of spring 30 will push pusher blade 50 of pusher mechanism 14 forward in tray 12 until the forward-most product contacts product retention member 44. As can be seen in this figure, the coiled end 57 may be positioned between two support members 58. The support members hold the coil spring between these members. As can be seen in this figure, pusher floor 52 may also extend below support member 58.

Referring to fig. 6, an alternative embodiment of a pusher tray is depicted. With this embodiment, a plurality of trays 12 may be formed into a single multi-tray assembly 80. The multiple trays may have a common floor with dividers 18 extending upwardly from the floor to form multiple trays or rows. In this embodiment, the product retaining member 44 may be a solid member extending between two dividers, as described above. One or more of the multi-tray assemblies 80 may be coupled or joined together in a side-by-side manner using any known technique, including clips, dovetail joints, fasteners, and the like. With this configuration, many rows of products can be offered for sale of many products.

As described above, trackless pusher mechanism 14 may be used with a gravity-fed system, i.e., a system having a tray or product channel mounted on a ramp to allow gravity-assisted product sale. Or, trackless pusher mechanism 14 may be used with a system mounted in a non-inclined or horizontal manner, where gravity would provide little or no assistance in the sale of product. Trackless pusher mechanism 14 may also be used to push a variety of shaped products.

Fig. 7 depicts an exemplary tip 60 of the end 29 of the coiled spring 30 that may be used with the merchandise system 10. As shown, the tip 60 defines a hole 61 for receiving the end 29 of the coiled spring and a hole 63 for mounting to the surface 16 of the tray. As can be seen in fig. 7, in one aspect of an alternative embodiment, there may be a tongue or mounting member 65 extending below the surface 16 that may be configured to mate with the hole 63 and snap-fit the tip 60 onto the tongue 65 and thus to the surface 16.

Referring to fig. 8, the exemplary tip 60 of fig. 7 is shown mounted to a tongue or mounting member 65. The tongue 65 may include an elongated outwardly extending rib 67 for snap-fitting the tip 60 onto the tip 60. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that other techniques may be used to mount tip 60 to surface 16, and that the depicted technique is merely an exemplary embodiment of one such technique.

Referring to fig. 9, an exemplary tip 60 is shown fully mounted to surface 16 in a snap-fit manner, and more particularly, to end 24 of surface 16 of tray 12. It is also depicted that the end 29 of the mounting coiled spring 30 can be inserted into the hole 61 of the tip 60. As shown in fig. 9, the end 29 of the coil spring may be inserted into the hole 61. Hole 61 is configured to receive end 29 of the coiled spring and hold end 29 in place, and is configured to also allow removal of tip 29 of the coiled spring from hole 61 in the event it is desired to disconnect the coiled spring from the tip to allow removal of pusher mechanism 14 from the system.

Referring to fig. 10, the end 29 of the coil spring is shown fully mounted to an exemplary tip 60. As shown in this figure, the coil spring 30 is now operatively connected to the surface 16 of the tray 12. As a result, pusher mechanism 14 is now mounted on tray 12.

Referring to fig. 21-27, an alternative technique for mounting the end 29 of the coiled spring 30 to a merchandise display system is shown. The mounting member 130 may be used to mount the end 29 of the coiled spring to the bottom plate 131 of the system. For those systems that include spaced apart slide rails 132 joined together by connecting ribs 134 (fig. 26-27), the mounting members 130 may be snap-fit or otherwise mounted on the base plate 131 and between the slide rails 132. Thus, the mounting member holds the ends of the coiled spring in place and on the floor of the system.

Referring to fig. 22-23, the mounting member 130 may include one or more legs 136 on one or more sides of the member 130. These legs may be configured to snap-fit to the underside of the rails 132, thereby retaining the mounting member 130 to the floor of the system. The legs 136 may include leg ends 137 that define an L-shaped or angled surface, the leg ends 137 configured to contact the underside of the rail 132 and prevent the mounting member 130 from lifting from the floor unless the legs 136 are intentionally bent out of the underside of the rail 132. The legs 136 may contact the connecting ribs 134, which will prevent slidable movement of the mounting member 130 relative to the base plate. Referring to fig. 26, the mounting member 130 is shown mounted on the floor of the system, more particularly on the rail. FIG. 27 shows the mounting member 130 held in place as the pusher blade 141 is pulled away from the front of the system. Other techniques may be used to attach the mounting member 130 to this type of system backplane 131. For example, a separate mounting clip, one or more fasteners, adhesive, or other technique may be used to secure the mounting member 130 to the base plate 131.

Referring to fig. 22-23, the mounting member 130 may also include a hole or opening or slot 138 that will receive the end 29 of the spring. The spring may be mounted using any of the techniques described herein or other techniques. The configuration of the holes 138 and mounting member 130 hold the springs in place on the mounting member 130, similar to the techniques described above.

The mounting member 130 may also include a sliding rib 139 on the top surface that allows a product placed thereon to slide more easily over the mounting member after the mounting member is mounted to the floor of the system. The mounting member 130 may also include an elongated flat body 140, the flat body 140 extending forward of the location of the legs 136 to provide stability to the mounting member 130 after the mounting member 130 is mounted to the floor of the system.

Referring to fig. 24-25 and 27, the pusher blade or pusher mechanism 141 may include a pusher face 143, the pusher face 143 configured to match the shape of the product it pushes. As shown, the pusher face 143 may be curved to match the shape of the bottle or other cylindrical object. The pusher blade 141 may also include a pusher shoe 145 constructed similarly to the pusher shoes described above. The pusher shoe 145 may also include a spring sleeve 147, the spring sleeve 147 receiving the coiled spring 30 to shield and protect the spring. The spring sleeve 147 may partially or completely span the pusher shoe 145 and extend in the direction of the spring 30. The spring sleeve 147 may have a relatively short height and a flat surface 149 to allow the product to sit thereon without significant tipping or tilting.

As described above, the pusher blades 141 may be positioned on top of the bottom plate 131 to slide on top of the surface. The pusher vane may be positioned between two product divider walls 153, the product divider walls 153 being joined together by a product retaining member 155. Additional product retention members 157 may extend outwardly from the product divider.

Referring to fig. 28 and 29, another alternative technique for mounting the end 29 of the coil spring 30 to a merchandise display system is shown. In this embodiment, end 29 is riveted to tray 216.

28-32, the trackless pusher system may be retrofitted to an existing shelf assembly 230, which shelf assembly 230 may have product dividers already built in. For example, in one embodiment, the trackless pusher system may be retrofitted to an existing cordset assembly. Referring to fig. 30-32, the tray or adapter 216 may have a skid plate 222, and the skid plate 222 may be sized for a single channel of the shelf 234 or may be sized for the entire shelf width. The skid floor 222 may include a number of raised ribs 224 that help reduce friction of products sold on the tray 216. It should be understood that one or more raised ribs 224 may be used with the sliding baseplate 222. Alternatively, the skid floor 222 may be a flat planar surface without raised ribs. The tray or adapter 216 may be configured similarly to the adapter 180 of fig. 16.

As shown in fig. 28 and 30, the end 29 of the coiled spring 30 may be riveted to the front end 228 of the tray 216 via rivets 229, or may be attached by any other attachment technique. The tray 216 may be held on the shelves by any attachment technique suitable for the particular shelf. In one embodiment, and as shown in fig. 29-32, the tray 216 may include one or more outwardly extending fingers or snaps 220 that may engage one or more individual wires 232 of the shelf 234 to retain the tray 216 on the shelf 234. The fingers or snaps 220 may extend longitudinally along the length of the tray 216 or may be spaced apart along the length of the tray. The snaps 220 may be used to snap-fit the tray 216 to an existing wire stand. As shown in fig. 29A and 29B, the snaps 220A and 220B may define a number of configurations that allow the tray 216 to be snap-fit onto a shelf. The embodiment depicted in fig. 28-32 allows for the placement of a trackless pusher system in an existing shelving system, such as a rack system, as a low cost alternative to the entire trackless pusher assembly. It should be understood that with this embodiment, any of the pusher mechanisms described herein may be used.

As shown in fig. 33 and 44, in another exemplary embodiment, the display management system includes one or more pusher mechanisms 286, one or more dividers 266, one or more trays 306, and one or more holders 250. Pusher mechanism 286 may be formed from pusher blades 287 and a pusher floor 288. Product is placed on the pusher floor 288 and directed to the front of the display management system via the divider 266 and the pusher blades 287. The coiled spring 30 biases the pusher mechanism 286 toward the holder 250 so that the product moves to the front of the system.

In one exemplary embodiment, as shown in fig. 33, the coil spring 30 may be mounted on the holder 250. Alternatively, the coil spring 30 may be mounted on the spacer 266 (also shown in fig. 48 and 49). The coil spring 30 may be directly mounted to the holder 250 as shown in fig. 34, or may be mounted to the holder 250 through a separate adapter 252.

As depicted in fig. 35, the adapter 252 has a wall 254 proximate a first end 256. The first end 256 has an upwardly curved portion 262. The intermediate portion of the adapter 252 may be provided with a curved slot 260, the curved slot 260 being adapted to receive a correspondingly shaped spring end (not shown).

The coil spring 30 at one end may be fixed to the middle portion of the adapter 252. In an exemplary embodiment, the curved slot 260 corresponds to the shape and size of the first spring end. Additionally, the first spring end of the coiled spring 30 may be crimped or bent to provide additional securement. However, any sufficient fastening method may be used to secure the first spring end of the coiled spring 30 to the adapter 252.

In an exemplary embodiment, as shown in fig. 36 and 37, the retainer 250 has a curved slot 284, the curved slot 284 corresponding in shape and size to the curved portion 262 of the adapter 252. The curved slot 284 extends through the length of the holder to allow unrestricted positioning of the adapter 252 along the length of the holder 250.

To secure the first spring end of the coiled spring 30 to the retainer 250, the curved portion 262 of the adapter 252 is placed into the curved slot 284 of the retainer 250. Curved slot 284 secures adapter 252 and the first spring end of coiled spring 30 to holder 250 and provides for quick and easy assembly of the display system. The wall 254 provides additional stability in the connection between the holder 250 and the adapter 252. However, other methods may be used to secure the adapter 252 and/or the first spring end of the coil spring 30 to the retainer 250.

Alternatively, as shown in FIGS. 33 and 44, the coil spring 30 of the pusher blade 287 may be mounted directly to the front of the tray 306. The first spring end 290 of the coiled spring 30 is provided with a bent portion. The curved portion curves downwardly from pusher floor 288 and is adapted to be received in a recess 316 (shown in fig. 33) defined by lip 318 of the front surface of dispensing tray 306 and retainer 250. The vertically oriented surface of the retainer 250 and the lip 318 are spaced apart such that a gap is formed between the vertically oriented surface and the forward edge of the lip 250. To secure the coil spring 30 and pusher mechanism 286 to the assembly, the first spring end 290 is inserted into the gap formed between the vertically oriented surface of the retainer 250 and the front edge of the lip 318 and into the recess 316 formed by the lip 318 of the dispensing tray 306 and the retainer 250.

In another exemplary embodiment depicted in fig. 38, 39, 48 and 49, the coil spring 30 may be mounted directly on the spacer 266. Further, in the exemplary embodiment, coiled spring 30 may be mounted perpendicular to pusher shoe 288 such that the axis about which spring 30 is coiled is perpendicular to pusher shoe 288. This orientation has the advantage of preventing the impeller blades from tilting backwards. First spring end 290 may be provided with an angled portion 292 and a tip portion 296. In an exemplary embodiment, the angled portion 292 may be bent perpendicular to the coiled spring body 294. The divider may be provided with a slot 298, the slot 298 being adapted to receive the end portion 296 of the first spring end 290.

To secure the coil spring to the spacer, the end portion 296 is inserted into the slot 298. Once tip portion 296 is fully inserted into slot 298, angled portion 292 engages slot 298 to secure first spring end 290 to spacer 266.

As depicted in fig. 33, various pusher mechanism designs can be implemented. The pusher blades 287 may be formed flat to accommodate correspondingly shaped products. Alternatively, the pusher blades 286 may have a curved first end and a flat second end. This serves to accommodate a variety of cylindrical products having a variety of different sized diameters and facilitates operation of the pusher mechanism 286. During operation, the product in the pusher mechanism 286, along with the curved first end, forces the pusher mechanism against the spacer 266, such that the coiled spring 30, when tensioned or operated, remains flat against the spacer 266 holding the first spring end 290. This allows the pusher mechanism to operate more smoothly and ensures that the product is dispensed correctly when the user removes the product from the system.

In another exemplary embodiment depicted in fig. 40-41D, the distance between the dividers 266 can be adjusted to accommodate different sized containers. The partition 266 may be provided with a connection portion 272. The connecting portion 272 may be provided with a first elongated angled surface 268 and a second elongated angled surface 270. In addition, the connection portion 272 may be provided with a plurality of protrusions 274. As depicted in fig. 41B, the guide track may be formed from a tooth 278 having a front surface 280 and a side surface 282.

When assembled, as depicted in fig. 41C, the connecting portion 272 is received between the teeth 278 of the rail. In addition, the elongated ramped

surfaces

268 and 270 and the protrusion 274 are wedged between the teeth 278. As shown in fig. 41C, the elongated ramped

surfaces

268 and 270 engage the front surface 280 and the protrusions 274 engage the lower surface of the teeth 278. The side surface 282 contacts the connection portion 272.

In the exemplary embodiment depicted in fig. 42, the tray 306 is provided with a dovetail connection. The first side 308 of the tray 306 is provided with a tongue 312, the tongue 312 being adapted to fit within a groove 314 located on the second side 310 of the tray 306. To attach the tray, the groove 314 is aligned with the tongue 312 such that the tongue 312 is securely seated within the groove 314.

In the exemplary embodiment depicted in fig. 43, the tray 306 is configured to receive the holder 250 at the front end. The holder may be provided with a rectangular hole 300 and with a correspondingly shaped and sized protrusion 302. To secure the retainer 250 to the tray 306, the projections 302 fit into the apertures 300 to lock the retainer in place on the tray 306.

As shown in FIGS. 45-47, after the product management display system is assembled, products are loaded into the system. By adjusting the divider 266, a wide variety of product sizes and shapes can be loaded into the system. As shown in fig. 46 and 47, the coil spring 30, together with the pusher blade 287, pushes the product toward the holder 250. When the user removes the product from the system, the pusher blade 287 pushes on the remaining product, causing the product to slide along the floor 264 to the holder 250. This ensures that all products remain in front of the display system.

50-52, the product management display system 400 may be arranged such that the

trays

402, 404 may be stacked on top of one another. This embodiment may generally consist of a first tray 402, a second tray 404, a first spacer 406, and a second spacer 408.

The

trays

402, 404 are each arranged to contain a product to be dispensed. The first tray 402 and the second tray 404 may each be provided with a transparent holder 410, a pusher mechanism 412, first and second guide walls, and a coil spring 414.

The pusher mechanism 414 is arranged in a similar manner to the embodiments described above such that it slides product along the surface of the

trays

402, 404 while removing product. In addition, any of the alternative arrangements of the pusher mechanisms discussed above may be implemented in a stackable tray arrangement.

For ease of assembly and disassembly, the stackable product management display system may be provided with a dovetail connection or any other suitable connection, such as a snap connection, a threaded connection, or a rivet connection. The first and second trays are provided with detents 416 for assembling the first and

second spacers

406, 408 to the first and

second trays

402, 404. Each of the first and

second trays

402, 404 may be provided with a receptacle 418 on their respective exterior side surfaces for receiving a surface of a correspondingly shaped detent 416 located on the first and

second dividers

406, 408.

To assemble the stackable product management display system, detents 416 on the first and

second dividers

406, 408 are placed in a locking arrangement in correspondingly shaped receptacles 418 on the exterior surfaces of the first and

second trays

402, 404. This provides a stackable arrangement that may be implemented in conjunction with any of the embodiments discussed above.

In another exemplary embodiment shown in fig. 53-57, the pusher blade 500 may be mounted directly to the shelf 508 and held to the shelf by the ends of the coiled spring 504. The pusher blade 500 will slide along and over the top of the surface of the shelf. One or more dividers 502 defining a T-shaped configuration may be positioned alongside the pusher blade 500. In an alternative aspect, the base of the divider 502 can be positioned on the shelf such that the pedestal is below the pusher blade 500. With this configuration, the pusher blade 500 can slide along the base of the divider. If the divider 502 is positioned far enough away from the vane 500, the vane 500 will slide directly on the surface of the shelf 508. The dividers 502 can define a variety of configurations, including those described herein, and can be secured to the shelf using any known technique, including push pins, rivets, fasteners, adhesives, and the like.

In one aspect, the end 510 of the coiled spring 504 is positioned within a hole or aperture 506 located on the shelf 508. End 510 may define a spring tip that may further define any suitable configuration that allows the spring end to enter bore 506 and remain secured to the bore. For example, the spring end of the end 510 may define a hook-shaped configuration that allows the end 510 to wrap around the edge of the hole 506. Alternatively, the spring ends may define one or more catches that hook over the edges of the holes 506. Other spring tip configurations are also possible.

As shown in fig. 54, to further secure the spring 504 to the shelf 508, fasteners 512, pins, rivets, or the like may be used. The fastener 512 will provide a second spaced anchor point for the spring that will hold the spring in the desired alignment during full operation of the spring 504 as the leaf 500 moves back and forth on the shelf 508. It will be appreciated that there may be even more anchor points depending on the type of shelf and the number and spacing of holes present on the shelf.

Referring to fig. 55-57, an exemplary mounting technique for mounting the spring 504 of the leaf 500 to the shelf is shown. As shown in fig. 55, the end 510 of the spring 504 is inserted into the hole 506 on the shelf. End 510 may define a spring tip as described herein to retain end 510 to the edge of aperture 506. As shown in fig. 56, the spring 504 (which in this embodiment includes a rivet or stud 514) is lowered onto the shelf so that the rivet or stud 514 fits within another hole 506 located on the shelf. The rivet or stud provides another anchor point for the spring. As shown in fig. 56 and 57, the spring 504 may define an aperture 516 for receiving another rivet or stud 518 to further secure the spring 504 to the shelf. With these multiple anchor points, the spring 504 will be fixed to the shelf and thus the paddle will be fixed to the shelf. Also, with these multiple anchor points, the spring will maintain the desired alignment during full operation of the spring as the paddle moves back and forth on the shelf. It should be appreciated that other anchoring techniques may secure the ends of the spring 504 to the shelf, including any of the techniques described herein, or any combination of the techniques described herein. It should be understood that if the shelf does not have pre-existing holes available to anchor the spring 504, one or more holes may be drilled in the shelf at desired locations.

With the embodiment depicted in FIGS. 53-57, it will be appreciated that the trackless pusher blades can be retrofitted directly onto existing store shelves with very little effort or additional mounting. In addition, this embodiment can be easily removed to allow the pusher blade to be repositioned anywhere on the shelf to accommodate any size and type of product being sold on the shelf. One skilled in the art will also appreciate that any of the pusher blades described herein can be mounted directly to the shelf using the techniques described herein, or by using any combination of the techniques described herein.

In an alternative embodiment, as shown in fig. 58, the display management system includes one or more pushers 520, one or more dividers 550, and a front rail 580. The divider 550 and the front rail 580 may be seated on a shelf. The pusher 520 may include a pusher face 522 and a pusher floor 524, as shown in fig. 9. The pusher face 522 may be divided into a non-adjustable portion 526 and a pusher extender 528. Both the non-adjustable portion 526 and the pusher extender 528 may define surfaces that may be used to contact product on the shelf. Both the non-adjustable portion 526 and the pusher-extender 528 may define similar heights and depths. The pusher-extender 528 can be adjusted from a position flush with and adjacent to the non-adjustable portion 526, as shown in fig. 4. As shown in fig. 60, the pusher extender 528 may be directed downward toward the pusher floor 524. The pusher extender 528 can be adjusted to various positions, as shown in fig. 60, including a position parallel to the pusher floor 524 and a position pointing upward away from the pusher floor 524 and a position pointing downward toward the pusher floor 524. In this manner, the width or height pusher 520 may be effectively expanded for wider or taller products.

The pusher extender 528 can rotate about an axis on the upper portion of the pusher 520. A notch wheel 532 (see fig. 77) may be located behind the pusher-extender 528. The pusher extender 528 includes a protrusion (see, e.g., protrusion 530 in fig. 77) that fits into a recess in the notch wheel 532. As the pusher extender 528 rotates about the axis, the projections rotate into respective spaces within the recesses in the notch wheel 532, similar to a pawl and ratchet mechanism. Each recess represents a separate location of the pusher extender 528. In each separate position, the pusher extender 528 may remain stationary such that a force is required to move the pusher extender 528 to a different position. In an exemplary aspect of this embodiment, the pusher extender can be rotatable from a first position adjacent the non-adjustable portion 526 to one of a plurality of second positions that can be within about 180 degrees of the first position. The degree of adjustment may vary depending on the number, size and spacing of the notches on the notch wheel. The pusher-extender may define a brightener aperture (lighter aperture) through a wall of the pusher-extender to reduce the weight of the pusher-extender and reduce the moment generated about the axis of the pusher-extender. The pusher extender may define a smooth or textured pusher face.

Referring back to fig. 59, a biasing element, such as a coiled spring 534, may be maintained at the rear of the pusher 520. In one embodiment, the coil spring 534 may be positioned adjacent the non-adjustable portion 526 of the pusher face 522. The coiled spring 534 may extend through the pusher shoe 524 as shown in fig. 59. In one embodiment, the pusher shoe 524 can include a channel 536 with the coiled spring 534 seated in the channel 536. The channel 536 allows product to seat on the pusher floor 524 with limited contact with the spring. In this embodiment, the weight of the product rests on the pusher floor 524. The pusher shoe 524 may also include a surface without channels.

In one example, the partition 550 can include a partition wall 552, a bottom plate 554, and a stop 556, as shown in fig. 59. In one example, the partition 550 may not include a barrier. In one example, the partition 550 may not include a bottom plate. The divider wall 552 may divide the divider floor 554 into two portions 559 and 551 (see fig. 78), one on each side of the divider wall 552. The partition wall 552 may also have a partition floor 554 on only one side of the partition wall 552. As shown in fig. 77, divider walls 552 may extend vertically from a divider floor 554. The divider floor 554 may be a flat surface. In one embodiment, the divider floor 554 may include a channel within a portion of the divider floor 554. The coiled spring 534 may extend across the divider base plate 554. In one embodiment, the coiled spring 534 may extend across the divider base plate 554 within the divider base plate 554. In this embodiment, the product will not rest on the coiled spring 534, but rather will rest on the portion of the divider floor 554 adjacent to the channel in the divider floor 554. In another embodiment, the divider floor 554 does not include a channel. In one example, a single pusher 520 may be located on one portion of the divider shoe 554 and a second pusher (see fig. 84F) may be located on a second portion of the divider shoe 554. Thus, one partition 550 may contain two pushers 520, one pusher 520 on each side of the partition wall 552.

The stop 556 may be configured to limit the product pushed by the pusher 520 and the biasing element contained therein. The stop 556 may be located at the front of the divider wall 552, as shown in fig. 59. A stop 556 may also be located at the rear of the divider wall to prevent product from accumulating on the shelf. As shown in fig. 59 and 77, the partition wall 552 may divide the stopper 556 into two parts. The stopper 556 may be perpendicular to the front end of the partition wall 552. In one embodiment, the stop 556, divider wall 552, and divider floor 554 are a single, integrated device. These three elements may also be integrated with each other. In one example, the barrier is spaced from the divider. In one example, the barrier is not integral with the divider or is integral with the divider. In another example, the barrier is configured to engage with the divider. In one example, the divider wall and the divider floor are separate devices from each other and are not integral with each other or are part of a single, integrated device. In one example, the divider wall and the divider floor are configured to engage each other. In other examples, the stop may be coupled to the front rail 580 or comprise a portion of the front rail 580.

As shown in fig. 61, an end 557 of the coiled spring 534 may be positioned within the stop 556. The end 557 of the spring may be folded at an angle to the rest of the spring. The angle may be 90 degrees or may be any other suitable angle less than or greater than 90 degrees. The end 557 of the coiled spring can then be placed in the slot 558 in the stop 556. Once in the slot 558, the end of the spring 557 will remain in place and will help bias the pusher 520 toward the stop 556. The end 557 of the coil spring 534 may include a plurality of portions each having a curved portion that places a subsequent portion of the end of the coil spring at an angle to a previous portion of the coil spring (not shown). The plurality of curved portions may engage a plurality of slots or apertures in the stop 556 or other connection points on the divider 550 or the front rail 580. The plurality of grooves or apertures may conform to the shape of the plurality of curved portions in the end portion 557 of the coil spring 534. The coiled spring 534 may include a clip (not shown) at one end. The catch in the coiled spring 534 may be configured to prevent the coiled spring 534 from disengaging from the pusher 520, such as, for example, when the coiled spring 534 is extended.

The pusher 520 may be connected to the spacer 550 only by the coil spring 534. The pusher 520 may be located on top of the divider shoe 554 and may slide over the divider shoe. The pusher member 520 may be configured to be entirely above the divider floor 554 as shown in fig. 59, rather than below the divider floor 554. In this embodiment, the pusher 520 may be picked up from the divider shoe 554, as shown in FIG. 62. Gravity and the weight of the product seated on the pusher floor 524 hold the pusher 520 against the divider floor 554. The product seated on the coil spring 534 also maintains the pusher 520 on the divider shoe 554. The only integral connection between the pusher and the spacer may be the end of the coiled spring 557 that is maintained within the slot 558 in the stop 556. The divider wall 552 can be used to guide the pusher 520 as the pusher 520 moves back and forth and over the divider floor 554.

The divider 550 may define a groove 560 or other recess in a lower portion of the divider. The recess 560 or other depression may be in the inverted shape "u" as shown in fig. 61 or may take another shape. The groove 560 or other recess may extend the entire width of the lower portion of the partition 550. The groove 560 or other recess in the example may extend along only a portion of the width of the lower portion of the divider. The groove 560 or other recess may be used to engage a front rail, a front wall of a tray, or other structure. The term recess as used herein may refer to a groove, slot, channel, indentation, depression or other recess extending inwardly.

The divider 550 may also define a plurality of teeth 562 or other projections. Teeth 562 or other protrusions may be located on the front of the stop 556. As shown in the exemplary embodiment in fig. 6, the teeth 562 may define a series of outwardly extending angled surfaces that meet or join at an apex. As used herein, the term "tooth" may refer to any uniform, non-uniform, continuous, discontinuous, uniformly spaced or non-uniformly spaced outwardly extending surface that may or may not be angled and may meet or join at or without an apex. Additionally, the teeth may define pointed, blunt, rounded, flat vertices or polygonal ends, or any other suitable shape. Rather, the surfaces defining the shape of the teeth may be flat, convex, concave, smooth or textured, or any other suitable configuration. In one embodiment, the teeth 562 are placed on an extension from the front of the stop 556. The divider 550 may also define resilient tongues or tabs 564. Teeth 562 or other protrusions may be located on resilient tabs 564. When a force is applied to the resilient tab 564, the tooth 562 or other protrusion may move in the direction of the force. When the force is removed, the teeth or other projections will move back to their original positions. The term "protrusion" as used herein may refer to a protrusion, a resilient tab, a tongue, a bump, a tooth or teeth, a ridge, a knob, or other protrusion extending outwardly. The plurality of teeth may include a plurality of projections, wherein the teeth extend outwardly and may include a plurality of recesses extending inwardly between the outwardly extending portions of the plurality of teeth.

The front rail 580 may define a flat surface 582, a ridge or tongue 584 or other projection or engagement member, a channel or recess 586 or other recess or engagement member, and a plurality of teeth 588 or other engagement members. The ridge or tongue 584 or other projection or engagement member of the front rail 580 may be configured to engage with the groove 560 or other recess or engagement member of the divider. The ridge 584 or other protrusion or other engagement member may fit within the groove 560 or other recess or engagement feature and prevent the divider 550 from moving in a direction perpendicular to the ridge 584 or the front rail 580 or at an angle to the ridge 584 or the front rail 580 (i.e., out of the perpendicular direction). The teeth 588 or other engaging members of the front rail 580 may be spaced apart. The teeth 588 or other engagement members of the front rail may engage the teeth 562 or other engagement members of the divider 550, the teeth 562 being shown in fig. 63, so as to prevent the divider from moving in a lateral direction parallel to the front rail 580. The teeth 588 or other engagement members of the front rail 580 engage the teeth 562 or other engagement members of the divider 550 and prevent the divider 550 from moving in the lateral direction as shown by arrow "a" in fig. 65. The term "engagement member" as used herein may refer to a protrusion, depression, flat surface, near flat surface, or other structural item that may engage another structural item. The front rail may be a separate structure attached or coupled to the shelf. Alternatively, the front rail may be part of a tray defining one or more of a front side wall, a rear side wall and opposing side walls. In such a configuration, the front rail may be formed as part of the front or rear wall of the tray, as described herein, and still achieve the objects of the present invention. That is, the front rail may be formed as part of (or attached to) the tray wall and receive and engage the divider and pusher mechanisms using any of the various techniques described herein. The front rail need not be located at the absolute front of the shelf. The front rail may be located near the front of the shelf or at a distance back from the front of the shelf. In one example, the front rail may be located at or near the rear of the shelf, away from the front of the merchandise display system. In one example, the front of the shelf may not include a track.

When the resilient tabs 564 of the divider 550 are pressed or a force is applied to the resilient tabs in a direction away from the teeth 588 in the front rail 580, the teeth 562 of the divider can disengage from the teeth 588 on the front rail. When the teeth 588 on the front rail and the teeth 562 on the resilient tab 564 on the divider 550 are disengaged, the divider 550 can move in a lateral direction to the teeth 588 in the front rail 580 (i.e., the direction shown by arrow "a" in fig. 65). By using the resilient tab 564, the products contained on the merchandising system 10 may be rearranged. When the partition 550 is moved in the lateral direction, the partition does not need to be rotated. Instead, the spacer 550 remains in a plane parallel to the planar surface 582 of the front rail 580. Further, the partition 550 does not need to be lifted. The partition 550 may simply be moved in the direction indicated by arrow "a" in fig. 65.

In one example, the merchandise display system includes a front rail 580 and at least one divider 550 configured to engage the front rail 580. The at least one divider 550 includes a stop 556, and the at least one divider 550 further includes a divider wall 552. The at least one divider further includes a divider floor 554 perpendicular to the divider wall 552, wherein the divider floor 554 is configured to hold a product. The merchandise display system also includes a cam 720 coupled to the divider 550, wherein the cam 720 is configured to move between a first position and a second position. The at least one spacer 550 is (a) movable in a lateral direction parallel to the front rail 580 and (b) fixed in a direction perpendicular to the front rail 580 when the at least one spacer 550 is engaged with the front rail 580 and the cam 720 is in the first position. The at least one spacer 550 is (a) fixed in a lateral direction parallel to the front rail 580 and (b) fixed in a direction perpendicular to the front rail 580 when the at least one spacer 550 is engaged with the front rail 580 and the cam 720 is in the second position.

In one example, the cam 720 includes a handle for rotating the cam 720 between the first position and the second position. In another example, the cam 720 may include a handle that allows the cam 720 to slide between a first position and a second position (not shown). Cam 720 may also include one or more cam walls configured to engage one or more groove walls in front rail 580 when cam 720 is in the second position. The cam 720 may also include a plurality of cam teeth configured to engage a plurality of front rail teeth on a surface of the front rail 580 when the cam 720 is in the second position. The front rail teeth may be located on the inner surface of the front rail 580. The merchandise display system may further include: a pusher mechanism having a pusher surface; a pusher shoe extending forward from the pusher face; and a coil spring having a coil end and a free end. The coiled end of the spring may be positioned behind the pusher surface, and the pusher mechanism may be attached to the merchandise display system solely by the coiled spring. The blocking member may be configured to receive a free end of the coiled spring. The front rail may define a front rail recess, and the divider may define a divider ridge configured to engage the front rail recess.

In one example, the merchandise display system includes a front rail 580 and a plurality of dividers 550, the plurality of dividers 550 configured to attach to the front rail 580 and divide the products into rows. Each of the plurality of partitions 550 includes: a partition wall 552 extending in a direction perpendicular to the front rail 580; a divider floor 554 perpendicular to the divider wall 552, wherein the divider floor 554 is configured to hold a product; and a cam 720 coupled to the divider 550, wherein the cam 720 is configured to move between a first position and a second position. Each of the plurality of dividers 550 is (a) movable in a lateral direction parallel to the front rail 580 and (b) fixed in a direction perpendicular to the front rail 580 when each of the plurality of dividers 550 is engaged with the front rail 580 and the cam 720 of each of the plurality of dividers 550 is in the first position. In addition, each of the plurality of dividers 550 is (a) fixed in a lateral direction parallel to the front rail 580, and (b) fixed in a direction perpendicular to the front rail 580 when each of the plurality of dividers 550 is engaged with the front rail 580 and the cam 720 of each of the plurality of dividers 550 is in the second position.

In one example, each of the plurality of dividers 550 is configured to move in a lateral direction parallel to the front rail 580 when a product is positioned on the divider floor 554. When the cam 720 for each of the plurality of dividers 550 is in the first position, a force on an outermost divider of the plurality of dividers 550 can move each of the plurality of dividers 550 in a lateral direction parallel to the front rail 580, and wherein the force is in a direction parallel to the front rail 580 and perpendicular to the divider wall 552 of the outermost divider.

In one example, the merchandise display system includes a front rail 580 and at least one divider 550 configured to be attached to the front rail 580, the at least one divider 550 comprising: a blocking member; a divider wall 552 extending in a direction perpendicular to the front rail; a divider floor 554 perpendicular to the divider walls 552, wherein the divider floor 554 is divided into a first portion and a second portion by the divider walls 552, and each of the first portion and the second portion is configured to hold a product. The merchandise display system further comprises: a first pusher mechanism configured to slide along at least a portion of the first portion; a second pusher mechanism configured to slide along at least a portion of the second portion; a cam 720 coupled to the at least one spacer 550, the cam 720 configured to move between a first position and a second position. When the cam 720 is in the first position, the at least one spacer 550 is movable in a lateral direction parallel to the front rail 580 and along the front rail 580, and when the cam is in the second position, the at least one spacer 550 resists movement in the lateral direction parallel to the front rail 580 and along the front rail 580.

In one example, each of the first and second pusher mechanisms of the merchandise display system includes: a pusher member surface; a pusher shoe extending forward from the pusher face; and a coil spring having a coil end and a free end, wherein the coil end is located behind the pusher member surface. The first and second pusher mechanisms are attached to the merchandise display system only by coiled springs. The at least one divider may define a divider engagement member and the at least one front rail may define a front rail engagement member, and the divider engagement member may be configured to engage with the front rail engagement member. The divider engagement member may define a divider tooth on at least one surface of the divider engagement member, and the front rail engagement member may define a front rail tooth on at least one surface of the front rail engagement member. The divider teeth may be configured to engage the front rail teeth.

In one example, the merchandise display system includes a front rail 580 and at least one divider 550 configured to be attached to the front rail 580, the at least one divider 550 comprising: a stop configured to engage the front rail 580; a partition wall 552 extending in a direction perpendicular to the front rail 580; a divider floor 554 that is perpendicular to the divider wall 552, wherein the divider floor 554 is configured to hold a product. The display system may further include a resilient tab coupled to the divider 550, the resilient tab configured to move between a first position and a second position. When the resilient tab is in the first position, the at least one spacer 550 is fixed in a lateral direction parallel to the front rail 580. When the resilient tabs are in the second position, the at least one spacer 550 may move in a lateral direction parallel to the front rail 580.

In one example, the divider 550 includes a plurality of teeth configured to engage the front rail 580. The divider teeth may be configured to engage corresponding teeth on the front rail 580. The divider teeth of the merchandise display system may be configured such that the resilient surface engages the front rail 580.

In one example, the merchandise display system includes a front rail 580, the front rail 580 including at least one first protrusion and at least one first recess, and at least one divider 550 configured to be attached to the front rail 580, the at least one divider 550 including a divider wall 552 and a divider floor 554 perpendicular to the divider wall 552, the at least one divider 550 further including at least one second recess and at least one second protrusion, the at least one second protrusion of the divider 550 configured to move between a first position and a second position. The at least one spacer 550 is (a) movable in a lateral direction parallel to the front rail 580 and (b) fixed in a direction perpendicular to the front rail 580 when the at least one first projection of the front rail 580 engages the at least one second recess of the spacer 550 and the at least one second projection of the spacer 550 is in the first position. The at least one spacer 550(a) resists movement in a lateral direction parallel to the front rail 580, and (b) is fixed in a direction perpendicular to the front rail 580 when the at least one first projection of the front rail 580 engages the at least one second recess of the spacer 550 and the at least one second projection of the spacer 550 is in the second position.

In one example, the at least one second projection of the divider 550 can include a cam 720. The at least one first recess of the front rail 580 may include a groove. The at least one second projection of the separator 550 may include an elastic label. The at least one first projection of the front rail 580 may include a tongue. The at least one first projection of the front rail 580 may include a plurality of teeth. The at least one second projection of the divider 550 may include a tongue. The at least one second protrusion of the partition 550 may include a plurality of teeth. The merchandise display system may also include a plurality of teeth on at least one first projection of the front rail 580 and a plurality of teeth on at least one second projection of the divider 550.

In one example, the merchandise display system includes a front rail 580, the front rail 580 including at least one first projection and at least one second projection, the at least one second projection of the front rail 580 configured to move between a first position and a second position. The merchandise display system also includes at least one divider 550 configured to be attached to the front rail 580, the at least one divider 550 including a divider wall 552 and a divider floor 554 perpendicular to the divider wall 552, the at least one divider 550 also including at least one recess. The at least one spacer 550 is (a) movable in a transverse direction parallel to the front rail 580 and (b) fixed in a direction perpendicular to the front rail 580 when the at least one first projection of the front rail 580 is engaged with the at least one recess of the spacer 550 and the at least one second projection of the front rail 580 is in the first position. The at least one spacer 550 is (a) fixed in a lateral direction parallel to the front rail 580 and (b) fixed in a direction perpendicular to the front rail 580 when the at least one first projection of the front rail 580 is engaged with the at least one recess of the spacer 550 and the at least one second projection of the front rail 580 is in the second position.

In one example, the at least one first projection of the front rail 580 may comprise a tongue, and the at least one recess of the divider 550 may comprise a groove.

In one example, the merchandise display system includes a front rail 580, the front rail 580 including a first protrusion and a second protrusion. The merchandise display system also includes at least one divider 550, the at least one divider 550 configured to attach to the front rail 580, the at least one divider 550 including a divider wall 552 and a divider floor 554 perpendicular to the divider wall 552, the at least one divider 550 further including a recess and a third protrusion. At least one of the second protrusion or the third protrusion is a movable protrusion movable between a first position and a second position. The at least one spacer 550 is (a) movable in a lateral direction parallel to the front rail 580 and (b) fixed in a direction perpendicular to the front rail 580 when the first projection of the front rail 580 engages the recess of the recess. The partition 550 and the movable projection are in the first position. The at least one spacer 550 is (a) fixed in a lateral direction parallel to the front rail 580 and (b) fixed in a direction perpendicular to the front rail 580 when the first projection of the front rail 580 engages the recess of the spacer 550 and the movable projection is in the second position.

In one example, the movable projection of the merchandise display system may be a cam 720 or a resilient tab. The first projection of the front rail 580 may be a tongue, and the recess of the partition 550 may be a groove.

In one example, the merchandise display system includes a front rail 580, the front rail 580 including at least one first engaging member. The merchandise display system further includes at least one divider 550, the at least one divider 550 configured to attach to the front rail 580, the at least one divider 550 including a divider wall 552 and a divider floor 554 perpendicular to the divider wall, the at least one divider 550 further including at least one second engagement member. The merchandise display system also includes a third engagement member configured to move between the first position and the second position. The at least one divider 550 is (a) movable in a lateral direction parallel to the front rail 580, and (b) fixed in a direction perpendicular to the front rail 580 when the first engagement member of the front rail 580 is engaged with the second engagement member of the divider 550 and the third engagement member is in the first position. The at least one divider 550 is (a) fixed in a lateral direction parallel to the front rail, and (b) fixed in a direction perpendicular to the front rail 580 when the first engagement member of the front rail 580 is engaged with the second engagement member of the divider 550 and the third engagement member is in the second position. In one example, when the first engagement member of the front rail 580 is engaged with the second engagement member of the divider 550 and the third engagement member is in the first position, the at least one divider 550 may only move in a lateral direction parallel to the front rail 580 in the plane of a rack (such as the rack 596 shown in fig. 70 and 71); the at least one divider 550 is fixed in the plane of the shelf in all directions except the direction parallel to the front rail 580; the at least one divider 550 may not twist, unfold, scoop out the tail in the shelf plane; at least one spacer 550 remains perpendicular to the front rail 580.

In one example, the third engagement member may be a portion of the front rail 580 or a portion of the divider 550. In one example, the third engagement member may include a cam 720 or an engagement surface. In one example, the first engagement member of the front rail 580 is a protrusion. The merchandise display system may further comprise: a pusher mechanism 520 having a pusher surface 528; a pusher floor 524 extending forward from a pusher surface 528; and a coil spring 534 having a coil end and a free end. The coiled end may be positioned behind the pusher surface 528, and the pusher mechanism 520 is attached to the merchandise display system only by the coiled spring 534. The merchandise display system may also include a stop member configured to receive the self-contained end of the coiled spring 534.

In one example, the merchandise display system includes a front rail 580 and at least one divider 550 configured to engage the front rail 580, the at least one divider 550 including a stop 556, the at least one divider further including a divider wall 554, the at least one divider further including a divider floor 552 perpendicular to the divider wall 554, wherein the divider floor 552 is configured to hold products. The merchandise display system also includes a cam 720 coupled to the divider 550, wherein the cam 720 is configured to move between a first position and a second position. When the at least one spacer 550 is engaged with the front rail 580, the at least one spacer 550 may be fixed in a direction perpendicular to the front rail 580. When the cam 720 is in the first position, the cam 720 may prevent movement of the at least one spacer 550 in a lateral direction parallel to the front rail 580. When the cam 720 is in the second position, the cam 720 may allow the spacer 550 to move in a lateral direction parallel to the front rail 580. The merchandise display system may include a handle to rotate the cam 720 between the first position and the second position. The merchandise display system may include a handle to slide the cam 720 between the first position and the second position (not shown).

Fig. 67A-C show an example of a step-by-step method of placing dividers into the front rail. First, as shown in fig. 67A, the divider 550 is lowered into the channel 586 defined by the leading rail 580. The force of lowering the divider 550 into the channel 586 causes the teeth 562 on the divider 550 to contact the top of the front rail 580 and move in a direction toward the divider 550 and away from the front rail 580, as shown in fig. 67B. The teeth 562 on the separator 550 may be helical teeth, as shown in fig. 63. The front rail 580 includes recesses 589, as shown in fig. 64, which recesses 589 are shaped to engage the teeth 562 on the divider 550. These recesses 589 are separated by teeth 588 present on the front rail 580. As the divider 550 is further lowered into the channel 586 on the front rail 580, as shown in fig. 67C, the teeth 564 of the divider 550 move past the top of the front rail 580 and into the recesses 589 in the front rail 580. When the teeth 564 on the divider 550 are in the recesses 589 in the front rail 580, the divider 550 is in the engaged position and does not move in the lateral direction under a normal amount of force.

In one example, fig. 68A-C illustrate a step-by-step method of placing a divider in a front rail in another embodiment. In an initial step, as shown in fig. 68A, the resilient tongue or tab 564 is manually pushed rearward such that the teeth 562 on the tab 564 move rearward toward the separator 550. The shaft pivot allows the resilient tongue or tab 564 to remain in the pushed back position and allows the tooth 562 to remain in a position toward the separator 550. Then, the spacer 550 is placed in contact with the front rail 580, as shown in fig. 68B. The groove 560 of the divider 550 engages the ridge or tongue 584 of the front rail 580. At this time, the divider 550 may move in the lateral direction along the front rail, and may facilitate the rearrangement. However, the divider 550 is fixed in a direction perpendicular to the front rail 580 (i.e., parallel to the divider 550) and cannot move in that direction, except for a slight amount of play between the groove 560 of the divider 550 and the ridge or tongue 584 of the front rail 580. (the direction perpendicular to the leading track is indicated by arrow "B" in FIG. 86H.) this negligible play may not be apparent to the user's system. The divider 550 is in contact with the front rail 580 and the groove 560 of the divider 550 engages the ridge or tongue 584 of the front rail 580, as shown in fig. 68B, while the divider 550 is movable in the plane of the shelf (the shelf is labeled 596 in fig. 70 and 71) only in a lateral direction (i.e., the direction shown by arrow "a" in fig. 65) that is parallel to the front rail 580. The dividers are fixed and immovable in the plane of the shelf under normal operating forces in all other directions except the direction parallel to the front rail 580. The dividers cannot twist, unfold, scoop or otherwise move in the plane of the shelf in directions other than the direction parallel to the front rail 580. However, the divider 550 may be moved in a direction out of the plane of the shelf, such as the direction shown by arrow "C" in fig. 87B. The divider 550, with or without product on the divider floor 554, can be slid in the direction previously shown by arrow "a" in fig. 65 without lifting the divider 550. In the final step, as shown in fig. 68C, the resilient tongue or tab 564 is manually pulled forward away from the separator 550. This movement causes the teeth 562 on the front divider 550 to fit within the recesses 589 in the front rail 580. The recesses 589 in the front rail 580 are spaced apart by teeth 588 in the front rail. When the teeth 562 of the divider 550 are in contact with the recesses 589 and teeth 588 in the front rail 580, the divider 550 engages and cannot move in the lateral direction under a normal amount of force.

In another example, the resilient tongue or tab does not include a shaft pivot that allows the resilient tongue or tab 564 to remain in the pushed back position. Conversely, the resilient tongue or tab 564 is biased toward the front rail 580 and away from the spacer 550 such that when the force is removed by manually pushing the resilient tongue or tab 564 back, the tongue or tab 564 automatically returns to its rest position and can engage the front rail 580.

In one example, the spacer 550 is placed in contact with the front rail 580. The engagement member of the front rail 580 engages with an engagement member of the partition 550 that fixes the partition in a direction perpendicular to the front rail 580 (a direction indicated by an arrow "B" in fig. 86H) and makes the partition 550 immovable in the direction perpendicular to the front rail 580, except for a slight amount of play or space between the engagement members that may not be noticed by a user. The partition 550 is also fixed in the plane of the shelf in all directions, except for the direction parallel to the front rail 580 (the direction indicated by arrow "a" in fig. 65). The divider 550 may only move in the plane of the shelf in a direction parallel to the front rail 580. Under normal operating forces and conditions, the spacer 550 is fixed in the plane of the shelf in a direction other than parallel to the direction of the front rail 580. However, the divider may be movable in a direction out of the plane of the shelf, such as the direction shown by arrow "C" in fig. 87B. When the divider is "fixed" in a direction perpendicular to the front rail 580, this means that the divider 550 is immovable in a direction perpendicular to the front rail 580 under normal operating forces and conditions, except for a slight amount of play or space between the engagement members that may not be noticeable to a user. The direction perpendicular to the front track is indicated by arrow "B" in fig. 86H. The front rail 580 or the second engagement member of the divider 550 is in the first position and the divider is moved laterally, parallel to the front rail. Then, the second engagement member is moved to the second position, which causes the spacer 550 to be fixed in a lateral direction (the direction indicated by arrow "a" in fig. 65) parallel to the front rail 580 under normal operating conditions and forces. When the divider 550 is "fixed" in a lateral direction parallel to the front rail 580, the divider 550 will not move in the lateral direction parallel to the front rail 580 under normal operating conditions and forces.

In one example, the plurality of spacers 550 may move as a group parallel to the front rail 580 while remaining fixed to the front rail 580 in a direction perpendicular to the front rail (direction indicated by arrow "B" in fig. 86H). Each of the plurality of dividers 550 can be placed in contact with the front rail 580. The engagement member or members of the front rail 580 engage with an engagement member on each of the plurality of dividers 550, which secures each of the plurality of dividers 550 in a direction perpendicular to the front rail 580 (the direction shown by arrow "B" in fig. 86H), and which renders each of the plurality of dividers 550 immovable in a direction perpendicular to the front rail 580, except for a slight amount of play or space between the engagement members that may not be noticeable to a user. The second engagement member (or members) of the front rail 580 or each divider 550 is in a first position, which allows the plurality of dividers 550 to move laterally parallel to the front rail 580. A plurality of dividers 550 can form rows between dividers 550 configured to hold products. As shown in fig. 45-47, a product can be placed between two of the plurality of dividers 550. A force may be applied to the first divider in a direction parallel to the front rail 580. The force may move the first divider in a direction parallel to the front rail 580 and cause the divider 550 to contact products adjacent the first divider 550. (the products are shown in fig. 45-47 as cans or cartons and may take other shapes.) then the divider 550 may force the products to move in the same direction as the first divider 550 (i.e., parallel to the front rail 580). The force may move the product into contact with the second divider 550 adjacent the product. The product may then force the second divider 550 to move in the same direction as the first divider 550 and the product (i.e., parallel to the front rail 580). The second divider may then force a second product adjacent to the second divider 550 to move in a direction parallel to the front rail 580. The second product may force the third divider 550 adjacent to the second product to move in a direction parallel to the front rail 580. In this manner, a series of dividers 550 and products can be moved in a direction parallel to the front rail 580, with a single force acting on only one of the dividers 550 or products in a direction parallel to the front portion 580. When one of the one or more second engagement members or the plurality of dividers 550 on the front rail 580 is moved to the second position, which secures the divider 550 in a lateral direction parallel to the front rail 580 under normal operating conditions and forces, the divider 550 cannot move in a direction parallel to the front rail 580, and the divider 550 will not force the other dividers 550 or products to move in a direction parallel to the front rail 580.

In one example, the second engagement member prevents the divider 550 from moving in a lateral direction parallel to the front rail 580 when the second engagement member is moved to the second position. The second engagement member prevents the spacer 550 from moving in the lateral direction parallel to the front rail 580 with a force equal to or less than a predetermined amount. When a force higher than a predetermined amount is applied to the partition 550 in the lateral direction parallel to the front rail 580, the partition 550 may move in the lateral direction parallel to the front rail 580.

In the embodiment shown in fig. 66, the thickness of the spacer floor 554 varies. The thickness of the front portion of the divider base plate 554 adjacent the flat surface 582 of the front rail is less than the thickness of the rear portion of the divider base plate 554 further rearward that is not adjacent the flat surface 582 of the front rail. As shown in fig. 67, the portion of the divider floor 554A is thinner than the portion of the divider floor 554B. In one example, the thickness of the front portion of the divider floor adjacent the planar surface 582 of the front rail 580 is at least 25% less than the thickness of the rear portion of the divider floor 554 not adjacent the planar surface 582 of the front rail 580.

As shown in fig. 69A and 69B, one embodiment includes a rail mounting clip 590 for the front rail 580. As shown in fig. 69B, the front rail 580 includes an aperture 592, the aperture 592 may be coordinated to be placed over an aperture 595 on a shelf 596 in a retail environment as shown in fig. 70. The rail mounting clip 590 may be curved. The rail mounting clip 590 also includes a narrow portion 594 at one end of the rail mounting clip 590. The rail mounting clip 590 can be inserted into the wider circular portion of the aperture 592 in the front rail 580 and into the aperture 595 on the shelf 596 in a retail environment as shown in fig. 71. The rail mounting clip 590 may then be moved laterally to a narrower portion within the aperture 592 in the front rail 580. By moving the rail mounting clip 590, the wider circular portion of the rail mounting clip 590 will engage the narrower portion of the hole 592 in the front rail and will be locked in place. The rail mounting clip 590 thereby holds the front rail 580 in place and prevents the front rail 580 from moving in a lateral direction. If it is known that the shelf will have holes prior to shipping, the rail mounting clip 590 can be inserted and locked into the front rail 580 prior to shipping. Inserting rail mounting clips 590 prior to shipping may increase the installation of the merchandise system in a store environment.

In at least one embodiment, the height of the divider wall 552 can be greater than the height of the stop 556, as shown in fig. 72 and 73. Fig. 74 also shows an end 557 of the coiled spring 534 being retained within the stop 556. The end 557 of the spring 534 is bent at an angle of about 90 degrees to the remainder of the spring body 534. The end 557 is disposed within the slot 558 and the slot 558 is retained within the stop 556.

In one embodiment, divider 550 includes teeth 600, as shown in fig. 72 and 73. These teeth may be molded integral with the divider 550. The teeth 600 are not retained on the resilient tabs or tongues as in other embodiments. The teeth 600 are spaced apart from each other. A plurality of teeth 600 may be placed on the divider 550 at the bottom of the front of the divider 550 and in front of the stop 556.

As shown in fig. 75, the front rail 610 may include a plurality of teeth 612. The teeth 612 in the front rail 610 may be designed to releasably engage the teeth 600 of the divider 550 through the use of a cam lever 622 and cam action in the front rail 610, as shown in fig. 76. The front rail 610 also includes a substantially flat or planar surface 614 and a tongue or ridge 616 that is substantially perpendicular to the planar surface 614, as shown in fig. 75. The front rail 610 further includes a cam lever 618, the cam lever 618 moving a cam rod 622 within the front rail 610, as shown in fig. 76A and 76B. In fig. 76A, the cam lever 618 is in a first position in which the teeth 612 of the front rail 610 are withdrawn away from the divider into the front rail 610. In fig. 76B, the cam lever 618 is in a second position, wherein the teeth 612 of the front rail 610 extend toward the partition 550.

FIG. 77 illustrates an exploded view of aspects of the embodiments. Front rail 610 is shown to include a crush housing 620, a cam lever 622, and a tooth lever 624. The tooth bar 624 includes a plurality of teeth 612. The pressing housing 620 includes a cam region 626, the cam region 626 being designed to receive the cam lever 622 and the toothed lever 624. A cam lever 622 is located on the base of the front rail 610 adjacent the crush can 620. The cam lever 624 is in contact with the cam lever 618. The cam lever 618 is operable to move the cam lever 622 back and forth in the lateral direction. Cam lever 622 also includes an elongated cam reservoir 628. The cam reservoirs 628 are diagonal with the front ends of the cam reservoirs 628 being closer to the front end of the front rail 610 and the rear ends of the reservoirs 628 being further from the front end of the front rail.

The rack 624 may include a cam bolt 630. A rack bar cam stud 630 is placed within the cam bar reservoir 628 during operation of the front rail 610. As the cam lever 622 and cam lever reservoir 628 move laterally, the rack lever cam stud 630 moves in a direction perpendicular to the movement of the cam lever 622. As the cam lever 622 moves laterally back and forth within the cam region 626, the rack lever cam stud 630 moves toward the front of the front rail 610 (and away from the divider teeth 600) and away from the front of the front rail 610 (and toward the divider teeth 600). As the rack cam bolt 630 moves, the rack 624 also moves. Thus, when the cam lever 618 is moved from the first position to the second position, it moves the cam lever 622 laterally along the inside of the front rail 610. This lateral movement of the cam lever 622 causes the tooth bar 624 and the teeth 612 thereon to move in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the cam lever 622; that is, the rack 624 moves in a direction toward or away from the front of the front rail 610 and toward or away from the teeth 600 on the partition 550. FIG. 78 illustrates a rear exploded view of aspects of the embodiment shown in FIG. 77.

Fig. 79A-C show examples of step-by-step guidance for placement of the divider 550 into the front rail 610. Divider 550, including teeth 600 on the divider, is lowered into channel 640 of front rail 610, as shown in fig. 79A. The toothed bar 624 is initially positioned closer to the front of the front rail 610 and the teeth 612 of the toothed bar 624 do not engage the teeth 600 of the divider 550. The cam lever 618 is in the first position, which keeps the teeth 612 of the toothed bar 624 out of engagement with the divider teeth 600, as shown in fig. 79. In this position, the divider 550 may move laterally along the ridge or tongue 616 of the front rail 610. The dividers 550 can seat products on the divider floor 554 as the dividers 550 are moved laterally along the front rail in the direction indicated by arrow "a" in fig. 77. Under normal operating conditions and forces, the ridges 584 or other protrusions in the front rail 580 may engage with the grooves 560 or other recesses in the divider 550 to secure the divider 550 and prevent the divider from moving in a direction perpendicular to the front rail 580, except for a slight amount of clearance (e.g., less than 3mm) between the ridges 584 and the grooves 560. The cam lever 618 is then moved from the first position to the second position. Movement of the cam lever 618 moves the cam rod 622 in a lateral direction within the compression housing 620. Movement of the cam lever 622 includes movement of the diagonal cam lever reservoir 628 in a lateral direction. The movement of the cam lever reservoir 628 in turn moves the gear lever cam bolt 630 in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the cam lever 622 and in a direction toward the teeth 600 of the spacer 550, as shown in fig. 79C. The rack cam stud 630 is coupled to the rack 624 and may be integral with the rack 624. Thus, movement of the toothed bar cam stud 630 causes the toothed bar 624 and the teeth 612 contained therein to move toward the teeth 600 of the divider. This movement causes the teeth 612 of the toothed bar 624 to engage with the teeth 600 of the divider. Under normal operating forces and conditions, when the teeth 612 of the toothed bar engage the teeth 600 of the divider, the divider 550 is releasably engaged and does not move in the lateral direction as shown by arrow "a" in fig. 77.

The toothed bar 624 is fixed on its end such that the toothed bar 624 can only move in a direction towards or away from the teeth 600 of the partition. The rack 624 cannot move in the lateral direction shown by arrow "a" in fig. 77. The cam lever 622 operates in the opposite manner. The cam lever 622 is fixed such that the cam lever 622 can move only in the lateral direction shown by arrow "a" in fig. 77. The cam lever cannot move toward or away from the teeth 600 on the divider.

Fig. 80 provides an isometric view of some aspects of the embodiments. When the teeth 612 of the toothed bar 624 are engaged with the teeth 600 of the divider, the entire merchandise system 10 is locked. The front rail 610 and the partition 550 are releasably engaged with each other and do not move relative to each other. In addition, the pusher 520 engages the spacer 550. In this position, the entire merchandise system 10 may be moved. The merchandise system 10 may be placed in a remote location according to a particular shelving map and then locked. The merchandise system 10 may then be shipped to the store location. At the store location, the merchandising system 10 may be removed from the shipping container and placed on a shelf like a mat. The planned code of the divider 550 will remain intact when the merchandise system 10 is locked.

In one example, the display system is assembled at a remote location from the shelf, and then moved to and secured to the shelf as a unit. The plurality of dividers 550 are engaged with the front rail 580 in such a way that they are fixed and do not move significantly in a direction perpendicular to the front rail 580. The plurality of dividers 550 are adjusted laterally parallel to the front rail 580 according to a pre-planned shelf map or other arrangement. The plurality of dividers 550 include engagement members and the front rail 580 includes engagement members. The engagement members on the plurality of dividers 550 and/or the engagement members on the front rail 580 are adjusted from a first position to a second position to secure the plurality of dividers 550 to the front rail 580 such that the plurality of dividers cannot move in any direction relative to the front rail 580. The front rail 580 and the plurality of dividers 550 are then moved as a unit onto the shelf. The front rail 580 is then secured to the shelf.

To change the shelf map of the merchandising system at a store location, the divider 550 and product need not be removed from the shelf. The cam lever 618 or other engagement member for each divider 550 may be moved to its initial position. The teeth 612 of the toothed bar 624 are released from the teeth 600 of the divider (or one engagement member is disengaged from the other) by moving the cam lever 618 or other engagement member to its initial position. In this position, the partition 550 may be moved laterally in the direction indicated by arrow "A" in FIG. 80. As the partition 550 moves, product may remain in place on the partition floor 554 and the pusher floor 524. Once the dividers 550 have been moved to the new shelf diagram position, the cam lever 618 or other engagement member of each divider 550 can be moved to its second position. The teeth 612 of the toothed bar 622 will then engage the teeth 600 of the divider 550 (or one engagement member will engage the other) and again lock the merchandise system 10.

In one example, the operation of the camming action is further illustrated in fig. 81A and 81B. Fig. 81A shows the divider teeth 600 not engaged with the teeth 612 of the toothed bar 624. In this embodiment, the cam lever 622 is adjacent the front wall of the front rail 610. In fig. 81B, the cam lever 618 has moved to the second position, the cam lever 622 has moved laterally and the rack cam bolt 630 has moved toward the partition 550. The teeth 612 of the toothed bar 624 have also moved toward the divider 550 and have engaged the divider teeth 600.

In one embodiment, a soft rubber pad may be used in place of the teeth 612 on the toothed bar 624 and may serve as the engagement member. In this embodiment, when the rack bar 624 is adjacent to the front of the front rail 610, the soft rubber pad and the spacer teeth 600 do not contact each other. When cam lever 618 is moved to its second position and cam lever 622 moves gear lever 624 in the direction of divider teeth 600, divider teeth 600 contact and thereby engage the cushion. This contact provides resistive interference and holds the separator teeth 600 in place and prevents the separator 550 from moving laterally in the direction indicated by arrow "a" in fig. 77.

In another embodiment, as shown in fig. 82A-C, the spacer 550 is held in contact with the front rail 580 using a clamp. Fig. 82A-C illustrate a step-wise process of inserting the spacer 550 into the front rail 580. First, as shown in fig. 82A, the spacer 550 is lowered into the channel 640 formed in the front rail 580 (or 610). Additionally, the ridge or tongue 644 in the front rail 580 contacts the channel 645 in the divider 550. The partition 550 includes a bump or outwardly extending ridge 650 at the front of the partition 550. The clips 652 on the front rail 580 are rotated to engage the tabs 650 of the spacer 550. Clip 652 snaps over tab 650 and locks tab 650 and spacer 550 in place. Once releasably engaged, the divider 550 cannot move in the lateral direction indicated by arrow "a" in fig. 80. To move the spacer 550, the clamp 652 must be pulled to release the clamp 652 from the spacer tab 650.

In another embodiment, as shown in fig. 83A-C, the divider 550 is held in contact with the front rail 580 by using a rotating lever 660 that includes teeth. Fig. 83A-C illustrate a step-wise process of inserting the spacer 550 into the front rail 580. First, as shown in fig. 83A, the spacer 550 is lowered into the channel 640 formed in the front rail 580. The front rail 580 includes a rotating bar 660, the rotating bar 660 itself including teeth. When the partition 550 is initially lowered into the channel, as shown in fig. 83B, the teeth of the rotating rod 660 are in a first position in which they do not engage with the teeth 600 of the partition 550. The handle 662 is connected to the rotating rod 660. When the handle is in the first position 664, the teeth of the rotating rod 660 are in a first position in which the teeth of the rotating rod 660 are not engaged with the teeth 600 of the divider 500. When the handle 662 is moved to the second position 668, as shown in fig. 83C, the handle 662 rotates the rotating rod 660 and moves the teeth on the rotating rod 662 to a position where they engage the teeth 600 on the divider 550. In this position, the bar teeth are in interference with the spacer teeth. When the lever teeth and the spacer teeth 600 are engaged with each other, the spacer 550 cannot move in the lateral direction indicated by the arrow "a" in fig. 80. To move the divider 550, the lever 660 must return to its first position 664 and the teeth of the lever 660 move out of engagement with the teeth 600 on the divider 550.

In one embodiment, multiple pushers 520 and dividers 550 can be used with a single front rail 580. Fig. 84A-E illustrate the use of two pushers 520 and two dividers 550 to push product toward the front of the shelf. The use of multiple pusher members 520 may allow for the pushing of a wide product, as schematically illustrated. In addition, placing the pusher extender 528 in its upwardly extending position can allow the pusher 520 to push a higher product or more products, as shown in fig. 84D and 84E. In one embodiment, the divider 550 may be coupled to two pushers 520. One pusher 520 may engage a portion of the stop 556 on each side of the divider wall 552, as shown in fig. 84F. In other examples, the divider may be coupled to one pusher, or the divider may not be coupled to any pusher.

In another embodiment, the spacer 550 is secured to the front rail 580 in part by operation of the cam 720, as shown in fig. 85. Fig. 85 shows the cam 720 in a side perspective view attached to the stop 556. The cam 720 includes a circular portion 722, the circular portion 722 being configured to rotate within a cavity 740 (see fig. 86G) in the stop 556. The cam 720 further includes a tongue 724, the tongue 724 being formed from a first cam wall 726, a second cam wall 728, and a third cam wall 730. In fig. 85, the cam is in a position not engaging the front rail. In this position, first cam wall 726 may be substantially vertically aligned. In this position, second cam wall 728 and third cam wall 730 may also be substantially horizontally aligned. First cam wall 726 is connected to second cam wall 728. Second cam wall 728 is connected to third cam wall 730. The cam also includes a handle 732.

In another embodiment, the tongue 724 has only two cam walls. First cam walls, such as first cam wall 726 and second cam wall. The second cam wall is straight and spans the length shown by

cam walls

728 and 730. In this embodiment, there is no curvature in the second cam wall. The cam walls may extend for one or more portions of the width of the divider 550, or may extend the entire width of the divider 550.

In another embodiment shown in fig. 92-94, the cam 720 may define a cam sliding surface 733 (hereinafter referred to as a cam slider), the cam sliding surface 733 being located on a bottom side of the cam opposite the handle 732. The cam slider 733 serves as a low-friction slide projection to improve slidability of the partitioning member with respect to the rail. In operation, the cam slide 733 lifts the divider off the track to reduce friction between the divider and the track, thereby improving the slidability of the divider relative to the track. As shown, the cam slider 733 of the cam 720 extends below or beneath the bottom surface of the divider and is the contact point between the divider and the track. In this configuration, when the divider is moved laterally relative to the track, the only primary contact between the divider and the track is the cam slider, and other significant portions of the divider and track are not in contact with each other. Thus, the single point of contact reduces friction between the divider and the rail.

The cam sled may also define a flat surface extending outwardly from the rounded portion 722 of the cam 720. The cam slide 733 may be centrally located on the circular portion 722 of the cam to provide stability and balance of the divider relative to the track. However, it should be understood that the cam slider may be located at any other suitable location on the cam. The flat surface of the cam slider may terminate in an elongated edge that is sized and shaped to slide freely in the channel 586 of the guide rail 580, thereby allowing lateral movement of the divider relative to the guide rail. The elongated edge of the flat surface may define a rounded or contoured edge surface to further assist the cam slider in moving freely relative to the track. It should be understood that the cam slider may define other configurations that allow the cam slider to fit within or along the track and also allow slidable movement of the divider relative to the track. For example, the cam slider may define a protrusion or a circular protrusion or a series of protrusions or circular protrusions that will serve the same purpose as a flat surface defining the elongated edge. While the cam 720 defining the cam sled 733 is depicted as being used with a divider, the cam and cam sled may be used with a pusher or pusher assembly or other component mounted to the rail.

In another embodiment, the cam 720 defining the cam slide 733 may be mounted to the rear of the divider or pusher and may operatively engage a rear rail mounted to the rear of the shelf. In this embodiment, the cam 720, if used on a shelf, may be used to secure and prevent lateral movement of the divider or pusher relative to the rear rail. In other words, the cams and cam sliders described herein may be used to secure a divider or pusher to either the front rail or the rear rail or both, depending on the desired application.

In an exemplary aspect, the cam 720 acts as a lock to lock the divider or pusher to the front rail or the rear rail or both. When the cam 720 is moved to the locked position, the cam 720 locks the spacer or pusher to the track and prevents the spacer or pusher from moving laterally relative to the track. In the unlocked position, the cam 720 allows slidable movement of the divider or pusher relative to the track. In an exemplary aspect, the cam 720 can rotate or pivot between a locked position and an unlocked position. In yet another exemplary aspect, the cam 720 defining the cam slider 733 serves the dual purpose of locking the divider or pusher to the track and also enhances the lateral slidability of the divider or pusher relative to the track when the cam is in the unlocked position.

As shown in fig. 92, the cam 720 can define a circular portion 722, the circular portion 722 configured to rotate within a cavity 741 in the front of the divider. The cam 720 may also define a camming surface 725 and a camming surface 727, the camming surface 725 and the camming surface 727 will engage the

groove walls

754 and 756 of the front rail, as discussed below.

In one embodiment, the cam 720 fits within the cavity 740 of the stop 556, as shown in FIG. 86G. In one embodiment, the cavity 740 is defined by sidewalls 742. The side walls 742 make the front of the cavity 740 slightly narrower than the width of the cam 720. A certain amount of force is required to push the cam 720 past the sidewall 742 and into the cavity 740. After the cam passes the side wall 742, it snaps into place in the cavity 740. The cam 720 may then rotate within the cavity 740 and not fall out of the cavity 740 or separate from the cavity 740 during normal use. The cam 720 is rotatably secured within the cavity 740. In one embodiment, the cavity 740 is also bounded at its front by a front wall (not shown).

In another embodiment, the sidewalls 742 do not make the front of the cavity 740 narrower than the width of the cam 720. In this embodiment, the cam 720 may be placed in the cavity 740 and removed from the cavity 740 without overcoming the resistance caused by the side walls 742.

Referring to fig. 92, in another embodiment, the cam 720 defining the cam slider 733 may be fitted into a cavity 741 formed at a front end of the partition 550, and may be delimited by a side wall 743. The side walls 743 make the front of the cavity 741 slightly narrower than the width of the cam 720. A certain force is required to push the cam 720 past the side wall 743 and into the cavity 741. After the cam passes the side wall 743, it snaps into place in cavity 741 and seats against a pair of cavity surfaces 747. The cam 720 can then rotate within the cavity and will not fall out of or become disengaged from the cavity during normal use.

As depicted in fig. 92-94, cam 720 is rotatably secured within cavity 741. In this embodiment, cavity 741 also defines an opening or slot 745, the opening or slot 745 being sized and shaped to allow rotatable movement of cam slide 733 within the cavity. The slot 745 is sized and shaped to allow a flat surface of the cam slide 733 to fit therein, thereby allowing the cam to rotate within the cavity 741. The opening 745 also allows the cam slide 733 to extend beyond the bottom surface of the partition and into the guide rail. Once in the track, the cam slider lifts the divider up and out of contact with the track, as described above, to allow the divider to slide freely relative to the track.

The opening 745 also creates clearance for the cam slider to rotate away from the guide rail. When the handle 732 on the cam is rotated towards the front edge of the guide rail, the cam slider will therefore rotate away from the guide rail. An opening 745 formed within the lumen 741 allows such rotatable movement.

Referring to fig. 93A and 93B, the spacer 550 is shown lowered and placed on the rail 580. More specifically, the front of the divider 550 descends into the channel 586 and the groove 560 rests on the ridge 584. The cam slide 733 will contact the channel 586 and support the divider above and below the rail 580, as shown in fig. 93B. In this embodiment, the cam slide 733 supports the divider and allows free sliding movement of the divider relative to the track. As shown in fig. 93B, there are gaps between the groove 560 and the ridge 584 and between the underside surface of the spacer and the top surface of the rail.

Referring to fig. 94A-94C, which illustrate cross-sectional views of the dividers, cams and tracks, the cam 720 is always in contact with the rail 580. As shown in fig. 94A, when the divider 550 is initially lowered onto the rail 580, the cam slide 733 contacts the channel 586 of the rail 580 and lifts the divider up and off the track. As shown in fig. 94A, cam 720 defines cam surfaces 725, 727 and 729. The cam also defines a cam handle 732 located opposite the cam slide 733. Also shown in fig. 94A is a front rail 580 defining a rail channel 586, the rail channel 586 receiving a portion of the divider 550 and being a contact surface of the cam slide 733. The rail 580 also defines a rail groove 750, the rail groove 750 further defining

groove walls

752, 754, and 756, which

groove walls

752, 754, and 756 contact the cam surface during cam operation, as described below.

Referring to fig. 94B, as the cam rotates, the cam slider remains in contact with channel 586 and cam surface 725 contacts groove wall or surface 756 of the front rail through operation of handle 732. At this time, the cam 720 contacts the guide rail at two points at the same time.

Referring to fig. 94C, as the cam is further rotated by operation of the handle, cam surface 725 contacts groove wall or surface 754 while cam surface 727 contacts groove wall or surface 756. In addition, cam surface 729 will contact groove wall or surface 752. Groove wall 752 acts as a stop to prevent further rotational movement of cam 720. The handle 732 extends over the top of and even with or past the front edge of the front rail. In one example, the front of the cam handle 732 is flush with the forward most portion of the front rail. There is a human finger gap between the handle 732 and the front rail sufficient for a human finger (i.e., finger or thumb) to reach the handle. At this point, the cam slide 733 has rotated upward and out of the channel 586 of the guide rail 580 and has rotated into the opening 745. The dividers are now seated on and in direct contact with the rails, while the cams engage and secure the dividers to the rails, preventing lateral movement of the dividers. In an exemplary aspect, when the cam 720 is in the position shown in fig. 94C, the cam 720 snaps onto the guide rail with an audible notification that is heard with standard adult human hearing, indicating that the cam is locked to the guide rail.

To release the cam from the snap-in-place or locked position, the user simply lifts upward on the handle 732 to release the cam surfaces 725 and 727 from the

groove walls

754 and 756. As the cam is released from the groove wall, the cam slider will rotate back into contact with the rail channel 586 and lift the divider up off the rail. The partition will then rest on the guide rail by means of the cam slider, and can then be moved laterally relative to the guide rail, and the above-described operation can be repeated. As described above, the cam is always in contact with the rail and always in contact with the partitioning member during locking and releasing of the cam with respect to the rail groove.

In an exemplary aspect, a merchandise display system may include a front rail and at least one divider configured to engage the front rail. The divider can include a barrier, a divider wall, and a divider floor perpendicular to the divider wall, the divider floor configured to hold a product, as previously described herein. A front lock, such as the example cam 720 described herein, may be coupled to the divider. In one aspect, the front lock is configured to rotate, pivot, or move between a first position and a second position. When in the first position, the front lock may allow slidable movement of the divider relative to the front rail. In one embodiment, the lock may lift the divider off of the front rail. When in the second position, the lock locks the divider to the front rail and prevents slidable movement between the divider and the front rail. The cam maintains constant contact with the front rail in both the first and second positions, and all positions are between the first and second positions.

In one example, a lock for the divider, such as a cam 720 or other lock, is located at the end of the divider. The lock may be located at the front end of the divider (i.e., the end of the divider closest to or in contact with the front rail 580, and also the end closest to the consumer selected product). A lock such as a cam 720 may be in front of the divider wall 522. A lock such as cam 720 may be in front of the stop 556. When located at the front end of the divider and in front of the divider wall 522 and in front of the stop 556, an individual can make finger access to the shelf, perform maintenance on the shelf, reposition the shelf, or rearrange the shelf, even when the product is on the divider floor 554, even when the divider floor 554 is full of product (i.e., when the divider floor 554 can no longer accommodate excess product). A lock (such as a cam 720) may be located on the divider such that when a product is located on the divider floor 554, the lock is in front of the product, and when a product is on the divider floor 554, the product does not obstruct access to the lock at any location on the product. The cam handle 732 may be flush with the front end of the front rail 580 and may extend beyond the front end of the front rail 580.

In one example, a merchandise display system may include a front rail, at least one divider configured to engage the front rail, and at least one divider including a stop. The at least one divider may also include a divider wall and a divider floor perpendicular to the divider wall, wherein the divider floor is configured to hold a product. The merchandise display system also includes a front lock coupled to the front end of the divider. The front lock is positioned in front of the blocking member and in front of the partition wall. The front latch is configured to be accessible by a finger when the product is positioned on the divider floor. The front lock is movable between a first position and a second position. When in the first position, the front lock lifts the divider out of and out of contact with the front rail and allows slidable movement of the divider relative to the front rail. When in the second position, the front lock may prevent slidable movement of the divider relative to the front rail.

In one example, fig. 86E and 86F show enlarged portions of the cam 720 and the front rail 580. The cam 720 may include texturing. The cam 720 may include teeth or other engagement members. In one embodiment, first cam wall 726 is textured with

teeth

736 and 738. Teeth 736 may form a lower row of teeth. The teeth 738 may form an upper row of teeth. In one embodiment, teeth 736 and teeth 738 are rounded. In at least one embodiment, teeth 736 and teeth 738 form a vertical row of teeth. Eliminating points on the teeth may provide better operation and longer life for the cam teeth. The cam 720 may also be textured in ways other than teeth, such as by roughening or other texturing.

In one example, the front rail 580 includes a groove 750, as shown in fig. 86F. Groove 750 may include a first groove wall 752, a second groove wall 754, and a third groove wall 756. First groove wall 752 connects to second groove wall 754, which second groove wall 754 in turn connects to third groove wall 756. In another embodiment, the groove 750 has only two groove walls. I.e., a first groove wall, such as first groove wall 752, and a second groove wall 754. Second groove wall 754 is straight and spans the length shown by

groove walls

754 and 756. In this embodiment, there is no curvature in the second groove wall 754.

In one embodiment, the groove 750 may be textured. The groove 750 may include teeth. In one embodiment, first groove wall 752 includes teeth 766 and teeth 768. Teeth 766 may form a lower row of teeth. Teeth 768 can form an upper row of teeth. In at least one embodiment,

teeth

766 and 768 form a vertical row of teeth.

Teeth

766 and 768 may be circular.

Teeth

766 and 768 may be placed along the entire length of indentation 750. Additionally,

teeth

766 and 768 can be placed piecewise along indentation 750, with additional portions of indentation 750 being smooth and devoid of teeth. The grooves 750 may also be textured in ways other than teeth, such as by roughening or other texturing. In one embodiment, second groove wall 754 is smooth and third groove wall 756 is smooth. In one embodiment, the second cam wall 728 is smooth and the third cam wall 730 is smooth.

In one embodiment, as shown in figures 87A-C, the merchandise display system 10 includes a divider 550 and a front rail 580. The partition 550 includes a partition wall 556, a partition floor 554, and a stopper 554. The cam 720 is rotatably coupled to the front of the blocker. The cam 720 includes a cam tongue 724, wherein the cam tongue 724 includes a first cam wall 726, a second cam wall 728, and a third cam wall 730. Cam 720 also includes a handle 732. Front rail 580 includes a groove 750, groove 750 being formed by a first groove wall 752, a second groove wall 754, and a third groove wall 756. The cam 720 is configured to rotate between a first position and a second position, wherein when the cam 720 is in the second position, the cam tongue 724 is engaged with the front rail groove 750 and the divider wall 5560 is prevented from moving in the lateral direction. The cam 720 may also be configured to slide between a first position and a second position.

Fig. 87A-C illustrate a progression of coupling the divider 550 to the front rail 580. The cam 720 moves between a first position in fig. 87B and a second position in fig. 87C. As described below, when the cam 720 is in the first position shown in fig. 87B, the cam 720 allows the spacer 550 to move laterally along the front rail 580 or parallel to the front rail 580. (in fig. 87B, the divider 550 is fixed in a direction perpendicular to the front rail 580 and cannot move in the vertical direction, except for the possible slight amount of play between the divider and the front rail that may not be noticeable to the system user). When the cam 720 is in the second position shown in fig. 87C, the cam 720 prevents the spacer 550 from moving laterally along the front rail 580. In one example, under normal operating conditions and forces, when the cam 720 is in the second position as shown in fig. 87C, the cam 720 will prevent the spacer 550 from moving laterally along the front rail 580 (and render the spacer 550 immovable along the front rail 580). In another example, the cam 720 inhibits movement of the divider 550 by preventing the divider 550 from moving laterally along the front rail 580 when a force equal to or less than a predetermined amount of force is applied to the divider 550 in a direction parallel to the lateral direction along the front rail 580. When a force higher than a predetermined amount is applied to the spacer 550 in the lateral direction parallel to the front rail 580, the spacer 550 moves in the lateral direction parallel to the front rail 580.

Fig. 87A shows the divider 550 raised above the front rail 580. As shown in fig. 87B, the divider 550 has been lowered and placed in contact with the front rail 580. The groove 560 has been placed over the ridge 584 and the ridge 584 has placed the groove 560. The groove 560 and the ridge 584 may contact each other at this location. In this position, the groove 560 and the ridge 584 may not always be in contact with each other. In some locations, there may be a space between the surface of the groove 560 and the ridge 584. The front of the stop 556 has also been placed in the channel or recess 586. In fig. 87B, the tongue 724 of the cam 720 is not engaged with the groove 750 of the front rail 580. In fig. 87B, the spacer 550 can move in the lateral direction shown by arrow "a" in fig. 86F and 86H. The spacer 550 need not be raised above the front rail 580 to enable such movement. The spacer 550 may remain in contact with the front rail 580 and move in the direction "a". During the movement of the divider 550, products may be placed on the divider floor 554. The ability to move the divider 550 without separating the divider 550 from the front rail 580 or removing product facilitates re-organization. In fig. 87B, the divider 550 can only move in the plane of the shelf (the shelf is shown as 596 in fig. 70 and 71) in a lateral direction parallel to the front rail 580 shown by arrow "a" in fig. 86F and 86H. In fig. 87B, under normal operating forces and conditions, the divider 550 is not movable in all other directions in the plane of the shelf (such as the direction indicated by arrow "B" in fig. 86H). The divider 550 cannot swing, rotate, splay, or scoop within the plane of the shelf, and the divider 550 remains perpendicular to the front rail 580 under normal operating forces and conditions. In fig. 87B, the spacer 550 can be moved in the direction indicated by the arrow "C" in fig. 87B so as to be lifted from the front rail 580. The direction indicated by arrow "C" in fig. 87B is not in the plane of the shelf.

In fig. 87C, cam handle 732 has been rotated toward front rail 580. In one embodiment, cam handle 732 is in contact with front rail 580. As the cam 720 is rotated from its position in fig. 87B to its position in fig. 87C, the cam tongue 724 contacts the front rail 580 and slightly deforms the front rail 580 away from the cam tongue 724. The cam first wall 726 may be in contact with the groove third wall 756 as the cam 720 is rotated from its position in fig. 87B to its position in fig. 87C.

When the cam is moved to the position shown in fig. 87C, the tongue 724 may snap into place within the groove 750 and the tongue 724 engages the groove 750. In one embodiment, the tongue 724 is a perfect fit with the groove 750. This perfect fit includes the engagement of the tongue 724 and groove 750. The front rail 580 is not deformed and the cam 720 and the front rail 580 are not strained from each other. First cam wall 726 is adjacent first groove wall 752. Second cam wall 728 is adjacent second groove wall 754. Third cam wall 730 is adjacent third groove wall 756. In one embodiment, the cam wall and the groove wall are in contact with each other. For example, first cam wall 726 is in contact with first groove wall 752; second cam wall 728 is in contact with second groove wall 754; third cam wall 730 is in contact with third groove wall 756. In at least one embodiment, the cam wall and the groove wall are substantially untensioned to each other when they are in contact with each other. In another embodiment, one or more of the cam walls are in tension with one or more of the groove walls when the cam walls and groove walls are in contact with each other.

In embodiments where first cam wall 726 has been placed in contact with first groove wall 752, the teeth of first cam wall 726 engage the teeth of first groove wall 752. Teeth 736 engage teeth 766 and teeth 738 engage teeth 768. The engagement of the teeth of the first cam wall and the teeth of the first groove wall provides resistance to the divider moving laterally along the front rail in the lateral direction indicated by arrow "a" (as shown in fig. 86H).

When the cam tongue 724 has been perfectly mated with the groove 750, there is considerable resistance to laterally moving the divider 550 along the front rail in the lateral direction shown by arrow "a" (as shown in fig. 86H) and the divider 550 does not move laterally under the normal forces exerted on the divider during operation.

When it is desired to again move the spacer 550 along the front rail 580, the cam can be released from the front rail. The handle 732 may be rotated away from the front rail 580. The tongue 724 may disengage from the groove 750 and return to the position in fig. 87B.

In one embodiment, divider wall 552 has sections of different widths (see fig. 85). The forward section 770 of the divider wall 552 may be an adjacent stop 556, which may have a greater width than the aft section 772 of the divider wall 552 as an adjacent stop 556. The front section 770 is connected to the rear section 772 by an intermediate section 774. The width of the intermediate section 774 tapers from the width of the divider front section 770 to the width of the divider rear section 772. In one embodiment, the width of the portion of intermediate section 774 adjacent section 770 is equal to the width of section 770, and the width of the portion of intermediate section 774 adjacent section 772 is equal to the width of section 770. The smaller width of the rear section 772 of the divider walls 552 creates an air space between the divider walls 552 and helps prevent product from getting caught between the two divider walls 552 when pushed, and helps provide product flow along the divider floor 554 when product is removed from the front of the merchandising system. In one example, the width of the front section 770 of the divider wall 552 is at least 25% greater than the width of the rear section 772 of the divider wall 552.

In the embodiment shown in fig. 85-87C, one or more spacers 550 may be placed in contact with the front rail 580. When the cam 720 or other engagement member is not engaged with the front rail 580, the spacer 550 may move parallel to the length of the front rail 580 in the lateral direction indicated by arrow "a" (see fig. 86H). The spacer 550 may then be secured in place by snapping the cam 720 or other engagement member into engagement with the front rail 580. The spacer 550 will remain secured under normal operating forces until the cam 720 or other engagement member is unlocked or otherwise placed out of engagement with the front rail 580.

In one embodiment, the front wall 561 of the recess 560 is textured, as shown in fig. 86K. This texturing may be in the form of roughening or small teeth. Texturing results in a non-smooth surface of the front wall 561 of the recess 560. In one embodiment, the front wall 585 or other raised or engaging member of the ridge 584 is textured as depicted in fig. 86I, 86J, and 86L. This texturing may be in the form of roughening or serrations and renders the surface of the front wall 585 of the ridge 584 non-smooth.

In at least one embodiment, as shown in fig. 86I, the stop 556 is a separate component and can be removably attached to the divider 550. In at least one embodiment, the stop 556 can snap into the front of the divider 550. In at least one embodiment, the stop 556 is movable. The entire stopper 556 may be movable, or one or more portions of the stopper 556 may be movable. For example, the portion of the stop 556 located in front of the product on the merchandise display system 10 may be movable. In at least one embodiment, the portion of the barrier 556 that is at the front of the product can be configured to slide. In an alternative embodiment, the portion of the barrier 556 that is in front of the product can be configured to rotate about an axis to allow a portion of the barrier 556 to open and close. In this embodiment, the shaft may be a hinged connection. Additionally or alternatively, a portion of the stop 556 may be spring mounted to the partition 550 such that a portion of the stop 556 requires a certain amount of force to move it away from the partition 550. In this embodiment, upon release of the force, portions of the stop 556 will close or return to their original position. An exemplary method for mounting the stop 556 is described in further detail in U.S. patent No.8,056,734, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

In an example, the divider 550 does not include a barrier. Alternatively, one or more stops may be included in the front rail 580.

In one embodiment, when the divider 550 is placed in contact with the front rail 580, as shown in fig. 87B, when the cam 720 is in the position shown in fig. 87 and the tongue of the cam 720 is not engaged with the groove 750 of the front rail 580, the front wall 561 of the groove 560 is not in contact or inconsistent contact with the front wall 585 of the ridge 584. When the cam 720 is moved from the first position shown in fig. 87B to the second position shown in fig. 87C, the tongue 724 engages the groove 750, which can force the partition 550 rearward. In one embodiment, tension between the tongue 724 and the groove 750 forces the divider 550 to move in a rearward direction. When the cam is moved to the second position shown in fig. 87C, the front wall 561 of the recess 560 contacts the front wall 585 of the ridge 584. Front wall 561 engages front wall 585. The texture on the front wall 561 of the groove 560 engages the texture on the front wall 585 of the ridge 584. The front wall 561 of the groove 560 and the front wall 585 of the ridge 584 prevent the partition 550 from moving along the front rail 580 in the direction indicated by arrow "a" in fig. 86H. The engagement of the texture on the front wall 561 of the groove 560 with the texture on the front wall 585 of the ridge 584 further inhibits the spacer 550 from moving along the front rail 580 in the direction indicated by arrow "a" in fig. 86H.

In one example, a resilient strip or bead may be included in the top surface or other projection of the spine 584 of the front rail 580. When the cam 720 or other engagement means is in the first position, the elastic band or bead is not compressed. In this first position, the divider 550 may move in a lateral direction parallel to the front rail, but cannot move in a direction perpendicular to the front rail. When the cam 720 or other engagement device is moved to the second position, the resilient strip or flange compresses with the groove 560 or other recess of the divider 550. When the resilient strip or flange is compressed with the groove 560 or another recess, the partition 550 is secured under normal operating forces in a direction parallel to the front rail 580. In one example, a portion of the groove 560 or other recess that contacts the resilient strip or flange of the front rail 580 includes a roughening or tooth (not shown).

In one embodiment, the stop 556 is not molded simultaneously with the divider wall 552 and the divider wall 554. The stopper 556 is molded as a separate piece from the partition wall 552 and the partition bottom plate 556, as shown in fig. 88A. The barrier 556 may be molded from a transparent material, while the divider wall 552 and the divider floor 554 may be molded from an opaque material.

In one example, the divider 550 includes an engagement member that includes a flat surface. The front rail 580 may include an engagement member that includes a flat surface. The planar surface of the engagement member on the divider and/or the engagement member on the front rail may comprise a smooth or substantially smooth surface. The planar surface may comprise a resilient surface. The planar surface may comprise a rubber or neoprene strip or other compressible material. In one example, when the engagement member of the divider 550 is in the first position, it is not engaged with the engagement member of the front rail 580, and the divider 550 is laterally movable parallel to the front rail. When the engaging member of the divider 550 is in the second position, it engages with the engaging member of the front rail 580, and the divider is secured and cannot move parallel to the front rail under normal operating conditions and forces. In examples where the engagement members of the front rail 580 and the divider 550 are smooth or substantially smooth surfaces and do not include teeth or other projections, the divider 550 may have additional lateral adjustability and unrestricted or near unrestricted lateral adjustability. The lateral adjustability of the divider 550 is not limited by the physical dimensions (such as width) of the projections or teeth. Unrestricted lateral adjustability provides a significant benefit to the display system by effectively utilizing lateral space and limiting or minimizing unused or lost space between product rows, thereby potentially increasing the available space on the shelf and the number of lateral product panels.

In one embodiment, the stop 556 may snap fit or otherwise engage the divider 550, as shown in fig. 88B. The engagement between the stop 556 and the partition 550 may be such that the stop 556 cannot be removed from the partition 550 under normal operating conditions and does not adversely affect the structure of the stop 556 or the partition 550.

Fig. 89A-C illustrate an example of a step-wise method of placing dividers in the front rail. In an initial step, as shown in fig. 89A, the partition 550 may be lowered into contact with the front rail 590. The rotating "T" lock 900 may rotate to snap onto the front rail 580. A rotating "T" lock 900 may be attached to the front of the divider 550. The rotary "T" lock 900 may rotate about an axis 903. The spacer 550 may be lowered and placed in contact with the front rail 580 as shown in fig. 89B. The groove 560 or other recess of the divider 550 engages the ridge or tongue 584 or other projection of the front rail 580. At this time, the partition 550 may move in a lateral direction parallel to the front rail, and may allow ease of rearrangement. In one example, the divider 550 may move along the front rail. The dividers 550, with or without product on the divider floor 554, can be slid in the direction shown by arrow "a" in fig. 65 without lifting the dividers 550. In the final step, as shown in fig. 89C, the rotating "T" lock 900 may be pushed forward and downward toward the front rail 580. The rotating "T" lock 900 may engage a lip 901 on the front of the front rail 580. In at least one embodiment, the front rail 580 includes a top front surface 902. Top front surface 902 may include texture or may be a resilient surface, such as rubber. Alternatively, top front surface 902 may include one or more teeth. Top front surface 902 may engage surface 904 on rotary "T" lock 900. Surface 904 may also include texture or may be a resilient surface, such as rubber. Alternatively, surface 904 may include teeth configured to engage teeth on top front surface 902. Under normal force conditions, when the rotational "T" lock 900 engages the lip 901, the divider 550 engages the front rail 580 and cannot move in the lateral direction.

Fig. 90A-F illustrate an embodiment of a divider 550 and a front rail 580. As shown in fig. 90A, the partition 550 may include a wall 552, a bottom plate 554, and a stop 556. The divider wall 552 may divide the divider wall 554 into two

portions

559 and 551, one on each side of the divider wall 552. As shown in fig. 90B, divider walls 552 may extend vertically from a divider floor 554. The stop 556 may be located in front of the divider wall 552. As shown in fig. 90C and 90F, the bottom surface of the divider bottom plate 554 may include a groove 560 or other recess, a tongue 941 or other projection, and a front wall 561. In at least one embodiment, the front wall 561 of the recess 560 is textured. This texturing may be in the form of roughening or small teeth. Texturing may result in a non-smooth surface of the front wall 561 of the recess 560.

As shown in fig. 90D, the front rail 580 may define a flat surface 582, a ridge or tongue 584 or other projection, a first channel or recess 586 or other recess, and a second channel or recess 950 or other recess. The front wall 561 of the divider 550 may engage the first recess 586 of the front rail 580. The ridge or tongue 584 of the front rail 580 may engage the groove 560 of the divider 550. The tongue 941 of the spacer 550 may engage the second recess 950 of the front rail 580. In one embodiment, the front wall 585 of the ridge 584 is textured. This texturing may be in the form of roughening or serrations and renders the surface of the front wall 585 of the ridge 584 non-smooth. The texturing of the front wall 585 of the ridge 584 may engage the texturing of the front wall 561 of the groove 560. The engagement of the front wall 561 of the partition 550 with the first channel 586 of the front rail 580, the engagement of the ridge or tongue 584 of the front rail 580 with the groove 560 of the partition 550, and the engagement of the protrusion 941 of the partition 550 with the second recess 950 of the front rail 580 may maintain the partition wall 552 perpendicular to the front rail 580 and prevent the rear of the partition 550 from splaying. In at least one embodiment, when the divider 550 receives a lateral force, the divider 550 can move laterally parallel to the front rail 580 and/or along the front rail 580.

The front rail 580 may include a hole 951 and an opening 952, as shown in fig. 90E. The holes 951 may be configured to engage with corresponding engagement protrusions (not shown). In one example, the engagement projection may be a flat engager. Corresponding engagement projections may connect one or more front rails 580 together in series. The connection of the apertures 951 and the engagement protrusions may allow one or more front rails 580 to be connected in series even if the front rails 580 are not perfectly aligned with each other. The openings 952 may be configured to receive fasteners that fasten the front rail 580 to the display shelf. The front rail 580 may include any number of openings 952 suitable for securing the front rail 580 to a display rack. Any type of fastener is contemplated within the scope of the present invention.

In one example, as shown in FIG. 91A, the merchandise display system 10 may include a rear rail 810. The rear rail 810 may be located at or near the rear of the shelf. The rear rail 810 may be of similar construction to the front rail 580, and the disclosure herein with respect to the front rail 580 is equally applicable to the rear rail 810. For example, the rear rail 810 may include a recess 804, and the recess 804 may be generally in the form of a shape "u". In this embodiment, the divider 550 may be connected to the divider block 802. The spacer block 802 may then be engaged with the rear rail 810. The rear rail 810, along with the front rail 580, may be a second rail in a merchandise display system. The rear rail 810 may also be the only rail in the merchandise display system. As discussed above, the front rail 580 may be located at the rear of the merchandise display system, thereby serving as the rear rail 810. In at least one embodiment, the plurality of spacer blocks 802 each have a cam 710 (not shown in fig. 91A). ) In the position shown by the arrow in fig. 91A. The cam 720 may be rotated from the first position to the second position and has the same effect as the cam 720 in the divider, which cam 720 engages the front rail 580. The divider block 802 may also include other engagement devices, including the engagement devices described herein for the divider 550, which engage the rear rail 810. The use of the rear rail 810 can hold the rear of the divider 550 in place and prevent the product from moving into position behind the pusher 520. Unlocking the divider 550 from the rear rail 810, the 720 or other engagement device is rotated away from the rear rail 810 or otherwise disengaged from the rear rail 810.

In one example, the divider 550 may be placed in contact with the front rail 580. The groove 560 may be placed over the ridge 584, and the ridge 584 may be placed within the groove 560. The groove 560 and the ridge 584 may contact each other at this location. The spacer 550 may also be placed in contact with the rear rail 810. Grooves or other recesses in the partition 550 may be placed on ridges or other projections of the rear rail 810, and ridges or projections of the rear rail 810 may be placed within grooves or other recesses of the partition 550. The spacer 550 may simultaneously contact the front rail 580 and the rear rail 810. The engagement means (such as the cam 720) on the front of the divider may be in a position such that the divider 550 may move laterally parallel to the front rail 580 and the rear rail 810, but the divider 550 is not movable in a direction perpendicular to the front rail 580 or the rear rail 810 (direction between the front rail 580 and the rear rail 810). The spacer block 802 may also include an engagement device (not shown), such as the cam 720 or other engagement devices described above with respect to the front rail 810. The engagement means on the spacer block 802 may be located such that the spacer 550 may move laterally in a direction parallel to the front rail 580 and the rear rail 810, but the spacer 550 is fixed in a direction perpendicular to the front rail 580 or the rear rail 810 (direction between the front rail 580 and the rear rail 810).

In one example, the engagement means on the front of the divider 550 may be moved to the second position. In the second position, the spacer 550 is secured in a direction parallel to the front rail 580 under normal operating forces. The engagement means on the spacer block 802 may also be moved to the second position. Under normal operating forces, in the second position, the engagement means on the divider block 802 secures the divider 550 in a direction parallel to the rear rail 810. The front rail 580, the divider 550, and the rear rail 810 may form a rigid tray that may be moved as a unit from one location to another. The front rail 580, the rear rail 810, and the plurality of dividers 550 can be pre-assembled and formed as a rigid tray at a location remote from the shelf. The front rail 580, the rear rail 810, and the plurality of dividers 550 can then be moved to the rack and secured to the rack by one or more fasteners.

In one embodiment, the merchandise display system may include a blocking member that is movable by rotation between a folded position and an upright position without the aid of, for example, a rotational biasing element (such as a spring-loaded hinge) dedicated to biasing the blocking member to the upright position. Various example aspects of an example system are shown in fig. 95-106, which may include a blocking member movable between a folded position and an upright position without the aid of a rotational biasing element. In one embodiment, the system may include a spacer assembly 550, the spacer assembly 550 configured to be secured to a support structure. As used herein, the divider assembly 550 may also be referred to as a divider 550. The support structure may include, for example, a front rail 580. In one embodiment, the divider 550 may include a front end 553 and a rear end 555. As used herein, forward direction motion with respect to embodiments including a rotational stop is defined by movement from the rear end 555 toward the front end 553. For example, arrow F shown in fig. 99B and 100D points in the forward direction. Movement in the rearward direction as used herein with respect to embodiments including a rotational stop is defined by movement from the front end 553 towards the rear end 555. For example, the arrow R shown in fig. 99A and 100C points in the bonus direction. Lateral movement as used herein with respect to embodiments including a rotational stop is defined by movement in the direction indicated by arrow a in, for example, fig. 65, 100A, and 103A. In one embodiment, the partition 550 can include a partition wall 552, the partition wall 552 having a right side surface 552a and a left side surface 552 b. In one embodiment, the divider wall 552 can extend from a front end 553 to a rear end 555 of the divider 550. In one embodiment, divider walls 552 may extend upward from divider floor 554. The divider floor may include a top surface 554a and a bottom surface 554 b. In one embodiment, the divider wall 552 divides the divider floor 554 into a first side 559 and a second side 551 on each side of the divider 550. The first side portion 559 of the divider floor 554 may also be referred to as a right side portion 559 of the divider floor 554, and the second side portion 551 may also be referred to as a left side portion 551 of the divider floor 554.

In one embodiment, the stop 556 can be moved by rotating between a folded position, as shown in the example in fig. 96B, on the right side of the stop 556A for the divider, to an upright position, as shown in the example in fig. 96A, for both stops 556A, 556B. In one embodiment, the stop 556 may be coupled to the rotational mounting structure 563. In one embodiment, the swivel mounting structure 563 may be directly connected to the divider. In one embodiment, the swivel mounting structure 563 may be removably connected to the divider as discussed below with reference to the example shown in fig. 102 and 103. Referring to fig. 97, in one embodiment, the rotational mounting structure 563 may be a knuckle 565 and pin 566 type hinge. In one embodiment, the rotational mounting structure 563 may be a flexible member, such as a flexible polymer or metal component.

In one embodiment, the stop 556 can be considered to be positioned near the front end 553 of the divider 550 when product on the top surface 554a of the divider floor 554 can contact the stop 556 when product is moving forward in a forward direction. In one embodiment, the swivel mounting structure 563 is proximate to and connected to the front end 553 of the divider 550 and/or the divider base plate 554. For example, referring to fig. 95, 96A, and 96B, the stop 556A is shown positioned proximate to and connected to the front end 553 of the divider 550 and the divider floor 554. In one embodiment, the stop 556 can be positioned near the front end 553 of the partition 550 and/or the partition floor 554 is spaced apart from and/or not directly connected to the front end 553 or the partition floor 554 (not shown). For example, in one embodiment, the stop can be removably connected to the front rail 580 and not to the divider 550, but positioned close enough to the divider such that products positioned on the top surface 55a of the divider floor 554 can contact the divider 554 when the products are moved in the forward direction (not shown). In such an example, the stop 556 can be considered to be located near the front end 553 of the partition 550. In one embodiment, the stop 556 can be positioned near the front end of the divider and connected to the divider wall. In one embodiment, the barrier may be folded towards the divider wall when moved towards a folded position (not shown).

Referring to fig. 98A-C, in one embodiment, the stop 556 is configured to rotate between an upright position and a folded position. An exemplary upright position is shown in fig. 98A and an exemplary folded position is shown in fig. 98C. In one embodiment, the top edge 568 of the stop 556 may rotate along an arc shown as B in FIG. 98A. For example, a force applied to the stopper 556 in the upright position in the rearward direction R can rotate the stopper toward the folded position as shown in fig. 98B to the folded position as shown by example in fig. 98C. In addition, the stopper 556 can be manually rotated by pulling or pushing the stopper handle 567 with a finger, for example, to lift the stopper to the upright position or to lower the stopper to the folded position. In one embodiment, the top edge 568 of the stop 556 may be rotated along the entire arc of B and C such that the top edge contacts the top surface of the divider floor (not shown).

In one embodiment, in the folded position, the stop 556 defines a fold angle C between the rear surface 569 of the stop and the top surface 554a of the divider floor. In one embodiment, the fold angle C is between about 45 degrees and about 20 degrees. In another embodiment, the fold angle C is between about 30 degrees and 15 degrees. As used herein, the term "about" with respect to embodiments that include a rotating barrier means plus or minus 5% of the stated value. In one embodiment, the fold angle is about 20 degrees.

In one embodiment, the fold stop structure 570 is configured to prevent the stop 556 from rotating toward the divider base panel 554 and to maintain the stop at the desired fold angle C in the folded position. In one embodiment, the fold stop 570 is a protrusion positioned proximate a lower portion of the rear surface 569 of the barrier. In one embodiment, the fold stop feature is attached to the top surface 554a of the divider floor such that when the barrier reaches the fold angle C in the folded position, a lower portion 587 of the barrier's rear surface contacts the fold stop feature 570. In one embodiment, the fold stop structure is connected to a lower portion of the rear surface of the stop member such that the fold stop structure contacts the top surface of the divider base panel when the stop member reaches a desired fold angle in the folded position (not shown). In one embodiment, the fold stop structure is an extension or platform or plate that is fixed to or integral with the divider base plate 554. In one embodiment, the divider floor prevents the stop 556 from becoming perfectly horizontal. The stopper 556 is configured such that when the stopper 556 is rotated to the folded position, the stopper is at an angle to the horizontal. The angle may be about 10 degrees, 15 degrees, 20 degrees or about 20-45 degrees or about 10-35 degrees. In one embodiment, the stopper has a horizontal portion and a vertical portion, allowing the stopper 556 to be at a predetermined angle with the partition bottom plate 554 when the stopper 556 is in contact with the partition bottom plate. In one example, the stop structure 570 is not present and the stop 556 directly contacts the divider floor 554 on the horizontal top surface 554a of the divider floor.

Referring to fig. 99A-C, in one embodiment, when the barrier is in the folded position, a force applied in a forward direction to a product in contact with at least a portion of the rear surface 569 of the barrier 556 can cause the barrier to rotate from the folded position to the upright position. For example, referring to fig. 99A, a product can be placed on the top surface 554a of the divider floor 554 with the barrier in the folded position. In one embodiment, a force may be applied to the product to move the product in a forward direction toward the barrier, as shown in the example of fig. 99B. In one embodiment, the force is gravity. For example, a divider 550 positioned such that the front end 553 is angled downward relative to the rear end can cause product positioned thereon to move toward the front end 553 by gravity alone. In one embodiment, the force may be applied by a pusher mechanism 520. In one embodiment, the pusher mechanism 520 can be biased in a forward direction and can be configured to slide on the divider floor and move the product in a forward direction. In one embodiment, the top edge 568 of the rear surface 569 of the baffle is rounded or defines a curved or radiused surface. The rounded edge at the top of the back surface of the stop facilitates rotation of the stop by, for example, allowing the stop 556 to slide or slide up the surface of the product as the motion vector of the stop rotates in the direction of rotation while rotating toward an upright position as the product moves forward. In addition, the rounded edge prevents the edge from digging into the surface of the product package and maintains low friction between the rounded edge and the product as the product moves forward, for example, and the rounded edge moves up the surface of the product. In one embodiment, the top of the barrier may include other structures to facilitate the barrier sliding up the surface of the product, such as, for example, a roller structure. In one embodiment, when the stop reaches the upright position, the stop stops rotating and stops the movement of the product in the forward direction. In one embodiment, the vertical stop is configured to prevent rotation of the blocking member in the forward position and establish an upright position of the blocking member. In one embodiment, the vertical stop structure can be a vertical surface 571 on the rotational mounting structure and an opposing vertical surface 572 on the stop 556.

Referring to fig. 100A-D, in one embodiment, the aspects of the rotational barrier described in the above examples may be used in an embodiment of a merchandise display system, for example, that includes a pair of dividers 550A, 550b and a pusher mechanism 520.

Dividers

550a, 550b can define product pockets 573 between opposing walls of the dividers. For example, product pocket 573 may be slightly wider than a product intended to be displayed in the system. In one embodiment, the barrier may be positioned in a folded position, as shown in fig. 100B, to facilitate placement of the product in the system. Additionally, in one embodiment, manually positioning the product in an upright position against the front surface 556f of the barrier and pushing the product in a rearward direction against the front surface 556f of the barrier may rotate the barrier to a folded position and allow the product to be easily inserted into the product pocket 573, as shown in fig. 100C. In one embodiment, once the product is positioned in a product pocket on the top surface of the divider shoe and against the front surface of the pusher mechanism, and then released, the pusher mechanism pushes the product in the forward direction F and causes the product to rotate the stop from the folded position to the upright position, as shown in fig. 100D, and then stops the forward movement of the product.

In one embodiment, the swivel mounting structure 563 may be removably connected to the divider 550, the front rail 580, or the shelf 234. In one embodiment, the rotational mounting structure 563 is removably coupled to the front end 553 of the partition 550. Referring to fig. 102A-D and 103A-E, an exemplary removable rotational mounting structure 563 may include a vertical column 591, a horizontal cross-beam 593, and

rotational mounts

597a, 597b connected to the horizontal cross-beam 593. In one embodiment, the vertical columns 591 may be elongated columns oriented in a vertical direction, and the horizontal cross beams 593 may be elongated beams oriented horizontally in a lateral direction. In one embodiment, the post may include a gripping structure near the top of the post to facilitate manual insertion and removal of the rotating mounting structure 563 to and from the spacer 550. In one embodiment, the horizontal cross member 593 is connected to the vertical columns 591 and extends in a cruciform manner from opposite sides of the vertical columns such that a left section 593b of the horizontal cross member 593 extends in a lateral direction from a left side 591b of the vertical columns 591 and a right section 593a of the horizontal cross member 593 extends in a lateral direction from a right side 591a of the vertical columns 591. In one embodiment, the right swivel mount 597a is connected to the right section 593a of the horizontal cross beam 593 and the left swivel mount 597b is connected to the left section 53b of the horizontal cross beam 593. In one embodiment, the length of each

section

593a, 593b of the horizontal cross-beam extends to approximately the width of the

respective side

559, 551 of divider floor 554.

In one embodiment, the swivel mount may comprise a knuckle and pin hinge or flexible member. In embodiments where the swivel mount 597a is a knuckle and pin hinge, the swivel mount 597a may include a first knuckle component 601 and the stop may include a second knuckle component 602, the first and second knuckle components being complementary such that a pin 566 may extend through the first and second knuckle components to form a hinge for rotationally attaching the stop 556a to the swivel mount 597a and the swivel mounting structure 563.

In one embodiment, the rotational mount 597a includes a fold stop 570a, the fold stop 570a configured to prevent the stop 556a from rotating toward the divider base plate 554a and maintaining a desired fold angle C of the folded position. In one embodiment, the fold stop 570a is a plate 603 extending from and integral with the rotational mount 597a or the horizontal cross member 593a, the plate 603 having a raised or angled portion 615 configured to define the fold angle C. In one embodiment, as described above, the fold stop feature is attached to the lower portion of the rear surface 569 of the stop such that when the stop reaches a desired fold angle in the folded position (not shown), the fold stop feature contacts the top surface of the divider bottom panel 554 or panel 603. In one embodiment, the fold stop feature is integral with the divider floor.

In one embodiment, the rotational mount 597a includes a vertical stop structure configured to prevent rotation of the blocking member in the forward position and establish an upright position of the blocking member. In one embodiment, the vertical stop structure can be a vertical surface 571 on the rotational mount and an opposing vertical surface 572 on the stop 556. In one embodiment, the vertical surface of the vertical stop feature of the swivel mount can be within a mount recess 604 defined within the swivel mount 597a, and the opposing vertical surface 572 on the stop 556 can be located on a tab 605 formed on the bottom of the stop. The mounting recess 604 can have a complementary shape to the tab 605 such that the tab fits into the mounting recess 604 when the stop is rotated in the forward direction.

In one embodiment, the post 591 can include a mounting slot 598 defined therein, the mounting slot 598 configured to mate with a front ridge 599 of the partition 550 to removably couple the rotational mounting structure 563 to the front end 553 of the partition 550. In one embodiment, the rotational mounting structure is removably connected to the divider using clips, cams, or other coupling structures.

In one embodiment, referring to fig. 104A-G, an exemplary removable rotational mounting structure 563 may include a horizontal cross beam 593 and

rotational mounts

597a, 597b connected to the horizontal cross beam 593. In one embodiment, the horizontal cross rail 593 extends in a lateral direction and has a length approximately equal to the width of the

respective side

559, 551 of the divider floor 554. In one embodiment, the right swivel mount 597a is connected to a right section 593a of the horizontal cross beam 593 and the left swivel mount 597b is connected to a left section 593b of the horizontal cross beam 593. In one embodiment, as shown in fig. 104A-104G, horizontal beam 593 is configured to have a low profile, wherein the height of the beam above spacer block 802 is minimized. The low profile horizontal rail 593 may provide more room for products to be inserted into the merchandise display system from a forward direction above the movable swivel mounting structure 563.

In one embodiment, horizontal cross beam 593 may include a forward extension 593c of the horizontal cross beam that extends toward the front of divider block 802. In one embodiment, the forward extension 593c of the horizontal cross beam 593 may extend forward of the front of the spacer block 802 and include an extension hook 593e configured to extend downward from the forward end of the forward extension such that the extension hook is positioned forward of the spacer block 802 when the removable mounting structure is secured in place on the spacer. In one embodiment, the swivel mounting structure includes a front extension 593c and an extension hook 593e extending from a right portion 593a of the horizontal cross beam 593 and a front extension 593d and an extension hook 593f extending from a left section 593b of the horizontal cross beam 593. The

forward extensions

593c, 593d and extension hooks 593e, 593f may, for example, help stabilize the detachable mounting structure on the divider.

In one embodiment, the detachable mounting structure 563 includes a first plate 603a extending from a right section 593a of the right swivel mount 597a or horizontal cross-beam 593 and a second plate 603b extending from the left swivel mount 597b or left section 593 b. In one embodiment, the

plates

603a, 603b may extend laterally from either side of the

rotational mounts

597a, 597 b. In one embodiment, the inner edges of

plates

603a, 603b can be configured to define a mounting slot 598, the mounting slot 598 being configured to mate the removable mounting structure 563 with a front ridge 599 of the divider 550 to removably couple the rotational mounting structure 563 to the front end 553 of the divider 550. In one embodiment, each

plate

603a, 603b may include a

fold stop

570a, 570 b. In one embodiment, the fold stop feature may include a raised or

angled portion

615a, 615b configured to define the fold angle C.

Referring to fig. 105A-D, in one embodiment, the stop 556 includes a resilient tab 606, the resilient tab 606 being configured to engage a tab recess 604a defined in the rotational mount 597 when the stop reaches an upright position, as shown in fig. 105B. The resilient tab 606 is configured to hold the blocking member in an upright position when it is engaged with the tab recess 604 a. In one embodiment, a tab recess 604a is defined in the mounting recess 604. In one embodiment, when a rearward force is applied to the blocking member, the resilient tab 606 flexes and disengages the tab recess 604a so that the blocking member can move toward the folded position, as shown in fig. 105D. In one embodiment, the mounting recess 604 includes a fold stop 604 b. In one embodiment, the tab spring 606 engages a fold stop feature to prevent the stop 556 from rotating toward the divider floor 554 and maintain the desired fold angle in the folded position. In one embodiment, the fold stop 604b is defined in the mounting recess 604 and may be an angled portion, for example, as shown in fig. 105A.

Referring to fig. 106A-B, example aspects of an example system are illustrated that can include a blocking member movable between a folded position and an upright position without the assistance of a rotational biasing element. In one embodiment, the system can include a spacer assembly 550, the spacer assembly 550 configured to be secured to a support structure, such as a front rail. In one embodiment, divider wall 552 can include divider wall extensions 552a, divider wall extensions 552a configured to increase the height of the divider wall.

In one embodiment, divider wall extension 552a and divider wall 552 can include tongue and groove components configured to secure the extensions to the divider wall. In one embodiment, the front edge 552d of the divider wall may be rounded. The rounded edges may, for example, prevent the product package from catching on the edges and tearing. In addition, the thickness of the divider wall may be increased to improve the strength of the wall and, for example, to accommodate tongue and groove components for the divider wall extensions. Examples of systems using divider walls of increased thickness may be useful for heavier products, such as in the case of soda cans, which may require more robust display system aspects than smaller, lighter products. In one embodiment, the width of the system and the barrier can be increased, for example, to accommodate larger products that may require more shelf space. In one embodiment, as shown in fig. 106B, fold stops 570 are defined in the divider floor 554.

In one embodiment, an example method of restocking a merchandise display system is described with reference to FIGS. 100A-100D. As shown in fig. 100A, the merchandise display system may include a first divider 550A and a second divider 550 b. The first and second partitions may also be referred to as a left partition 550a and a right partition 550 b. The first and second dividers may include first and second divider walls extending from the front end to the rear end of the respective divider. A product pocket 573 may be defined between the opposing first and second divider walls. The first divider may include a first stopper 556c, the first stopper 556c being located at the front end of the divider 550a and to the right of the first divider wall. Also, the second partition 550b may include a stopper 556d located at a front end of the second partition and at a left side of the second partition wall. The system can include a pusher 520 positioned between the first and second dividers. The pusher may comprise a biasing element which biases the pusher in the forward direction F towards the front end of the divider. The

stops

556c, 556d can be in a first upright position as shown in fig. 100A. Referring to fig. 100B, the

stops

556c, 556d can be positioned in the second, folded position, for example, by moving the stops to the second position with a finger or using the product to push the stops into the second position while placing the product in the product pocket. Alternatively, the product may be placed in the product pocket by passing the product over the top of the blocking member in the first upright position and directly into the product pocket. Referring to fig. 100C, the product can be positioned in front of and in contact with the front surface of the product pusher such that the product pusher is seated to move the product forward when the product is released. Once the product is released, the pusher 520 moves the product forward so that the product contacts the barrier. When the blocking member is in the second folded position and the product is in the product pocket and is released, the pusher can push the product forward such that the product contacts the blocking member and moves the blocking member from the second folded position to the first upright position. When the blocking member reaches the first upright position, the blocking member prevents the pusher and product from moving forward, as shown in FIG. 100D. In one embodiment, the product may be positioned in the product pocket by moving the product over the blocking member in the first upright position. In such an example, the pusher can move the product forward until the product contacts the stop in the first upright position, and then forward movement of the product will stop, as shown in fig. 100D.

Referring to fig. 101A-F, in one embodiment, a merchandise display system including the above-described rotational stop may be used in conjunction with a modified product tray to facilitate efficient storage of products in the merchandise display system. Referring to fig. 101A and 101B, in one embodiment, the improved product tray 578 may include a bottom surface 574, a right side wall 575, a left side wall 576, and an alignment flap 577. In one embodiment, the alignment flap 577 may have a proximal end 579, a distal end 581, a right edge 583, and a left edge 587. A flap width D of alignment flap 577 may be defined between right and left

edges

583, 587 of alignment flap 577. In one embodiment, flap width D is approximately equal to the width of the product in product tray 578. In one embodiment, the length of the alignment tab is defined in a direction perpendicular to the width D. In one embodiment, the length of the alignment tab may vary. In one embodiment, the length of the alignment tab can be approximately equal to the height of the stop 556 or the height of the product. In one embodiment, the proximal end 579 of the alignment flap is configured to be coupled to the bottom surface 574 of the product tray. In one embodiment, the alignment flap 577 is configured to be positioned between opposing divider walls of a merchandise display system such that the alignment flap aligns a product tray and products stored in the product tray with product pockets such that the products stored in the product tray may slide from the product tray, as shown in fig. 101D, directly into the product pockets of the merchandise display system, as shown in fig. 101E. In one embodiment, a portion of the alignment tab may taper toward the distal end to aid in inserting the alignment tab between opposing divider walls of the system. In one embodiment, the alignment tab may be used to move the barrier from an upright position to a folded position to facilitate sliding of products from the product tray into product pockets of the system. In one embodiment, the alignment tab is positioned within the product pocket such that the alignment tab moves the stop from the upright position to the folded position (as shown in fig. 101C and 101D), and then the product can be slid from the product tray into the product pocket of the system (as shown in fig. 101E), removing the alignment tab from the product pocket and removing contact with the stop. In such embodiments, in embodiments having a pusher (as shown in fig. 101E), the pusher can then push the product forward such that the forwardmost product contacts the barrier and moves the barrier from the folded position to the upright position. When the blocking member reaches the upright position, rotation of the blocking member stops and forward movement of the product stops so that the front most product is at the front most position of the display system (as shown in fig. 101F). In such an example, the alignment tab is used to temporarily move the barrier from the upright position to the folded position for storage of the system. In one embodiment, the obstruction may be physically removed from the system so that the system may store the product. In one embodiment, the blocking member may be configured to rotate from the upright position in a forward direction such that, for example, a top portion of the blocking member extends in the forward direction beyond a front end of the divider. Such a position may be referred to as a forwardly folded position. In one embodiment, the blocking member may be configured to rotate in a forward direction from the folded position to the upright position and beyond a forward end of the divider to a forward folded position (not shown). In one embodiment, the stop may rotate in a forward direction beyond the forward end of the divider, the stop may include a rotation stop and define an angle with respect to the divider floor as described above with respect to the stop rotating only between the upright and folded positions. In one embodiment, the barrier may be configured to slide in a lateral direction, left side, and/or right side. In one embodiment, the barrier may be manually positioned in the folded position, the upright position, and/or the forwardly folded position.

In one example, an unbiased stop 556 is attached to the divider floor 554. The unbiased stop 556 is configured to be adjustable from a first position to a second position. In the first position, the unbiased stop 556 is configured to inhibit or prevent product on the divider floor 554 from moving beyond the front edge of the divider 550. In the first position, the unbiased stop 556 is configured to prevent product from being placed on the divider floor 554. In the first position, the unbiased stop is configured to be vertical. In the second position, the unbiased stop 556 is configured to allow product to be placed on the divider floor 554. In the second position, the unbiased stop is horizontal or diagonal with respect to the divider floor 554 or other structure against which the shelf or divider 550 rests. In some aspects, in the second position, the unbiased stop 556 is configured to be level with the divider floor 554 or shelf or other structure against which the unbiased stop 556 rests; alternatively, in the second position, the unbiased stop 556 is configured to rotate or adjust at a horizontal angle from the divider floor 554. The horizontal angle from the divider floor 554 may be 20 degrees, may be between about 10 degrees and 30 degrees, or may be between about 20 degrees and 45 degrees. In one embodiment, the unbiased stop 556 is configured without a spring or other biasing element urging it between the first and second positions. In one embodiment, the unbiased stop 556 is configured to be freely adjustable from the first position to the second position. In one embodiment, the unbiased stop 556 is configured such that it can be moved to and will remain in the first position and can be moved to and will remain in the second position. In one embodiment, the unbiased stop 556 is configured to be unbiased and does not include a biasing mechanism, such as a spring or other device, that exerts a force on the unbiased stop 556 to force the unbiased stop into the first or second position.

In various embodiments, including the example embodiments as in the previous paragraph, an external object, such as a product as shown in fig. 99A-99C or a product tray 578 or alignment flap 577 or a wall of a product tray 578 as shown in fig. 101A-101C or a human hand or finger, may move or force the unbiased stop 556 from the first position to the second position or from the second position to the first position. The product or tray 578 or the alignment tab 577 or a human finger can exert a force on the unbiased stop 556 such that the unbiased stop 556 moves from a first position substantially perpendicular to the divider floor 554 to a second diagonal position or a second substantially horizontal position. In the second position, the unbiased partition 556 is configured such that products can be placed on the divider floor 554 and allow the products to be restocked in a quick manner. After restocking the products to the divider floor 554, the pusher 520 exerts a force on the products in a direction toward the front of the divider 550 and the front of the product shelf or other structure against which the divider 550 rests. The pusher can be a spring-urged pusher, wherein a spring or other biasing unit exerts a force on the pusher, biasing it toward the front of the partition 550. The springs or other biasing elements are not physically connected or in direct contact. The product, in turn, exerts a force on the unbiased blocking member 554 that urges the biased blocking member into the first position. In the first position, the unbiased stop prevents the products from moving beyond the front edge of the divider 550 or the shelf or other structure to which the divider 550 is secured.

In one embodiment, a plurality of products may be positioned in product pockets of the system. For example, the consumer may delete the leading edge product. In this case, for example, the pusher may push the remaining product in the product pocket forward so that the next product contacts the barrier on-line and forward movement of the product stops. In this case, the front most product is replaced on-line with the next product, thereby holding the product in the front most position until the product in the pocket 573 is used up.

In some embodiments, the merchandise display system may include a low product indicator system 1000, and the low product indicator system 1000 may indicate to a user that the level of product within the merchandise display system is low or absent. Various exemplary aspects of a low product indicator system are shown in fig. 107A-112C. In one embodiment, the system 1000 may include a spacer assembly 550, the spacer assembly 550 configured to be secured to a support structure. As used herein, the divider assembly 550 may also be referred to as a divider 550. The support structure may include, for example, a front rail 580. In one embodiment, the divider 550 may include a front end 553 and a rear end 555. As used herein, movement in a forward direction with respect to embodiments including a low product indicator system is defined by movement from the rear end 555 to the front end 553. For example, arrow F as shown in fig. 99B points in the forward direction. Movement in the rearward direction used herein with respect to embodiments including low product indicator systems is defined by movement from the front end 553 toward the rear end 555. For example, arrow R depicted in fig. 99A points in the rearward direction. Lateral movement as used herein with respect to embodiments including low product indicator systems is defined by movement in the direction shown by arrow a in fig. 65, for example. In one embodiment, the partition 550 may include a partition wall 552 having a right side surface 552a and a left side surface 552 b. In one embodiment, the divider wall 552 can extend from a front end 553 to a rear end 555 of the divider 550. In one embodiment, divider walls 552 may extend upward from divider floor 554. The divider floor 554 may include a top surface 554a and a bottom surface 554 b. In one embodiment, the divider wall 552 divides the divider floor 554 into a first side 559 and a second side 551 on each side of the divider 550. The first side portion 559 of the divider floor 554 may also be referred to as a right side portion 559 of the divider floor 554, and the second side portion 551 may also be referred to as a left side portion 551 of the divider floor 554. In one embodiment, the merchandise display system may be configured to apply a force in a forward direction to the products within the merchandise display system via the pusher mechanism 520. In one embodiment, the pusher mechanism 520 can be biased in a forward direction and can be configured to slide on the divider floor and move the product in a forward direction. In one embodiment, the merchandise display system may include a biasing element 534, such as a coil spring, and the biasing element 534 may apply a force to the pusher 520 in a forward direction. The coiled spring 534 may be retained at the rear of the pusher 520. In another embodiment, the pusher 520 may be moved in a forward direction without the use of a biasing element. For example, the pusher member 520 may be mounted in an inclined manner, and gravity may allow the pusher member to move in a forward direction. The pusher 520 may include a pusher face 522 and a pusher floor 524. The stop 556 may be configured to limit the product pushed by the pusher 520 and the biasing element contained therein. The stop 556 may be located in front of the divider wall 552.

In some embodiments, the low product indicator system 1000 can include one or more portions that can engage with one or more portions of the pusher 520 and/or the biasing element 534. Thus, in some embodiments, the low product indicator system 1000 can move in a forward and/or rearward direction when the pusher 520 moves in the forward and/or rearward direction. In some embodiments, low product indicator system 1000 can be configured to stop forward movement at a predetermined stop point while pusher 520 can continue to move forward as product is removed. In some embodiments, the low product indicator system 1000 may include one or more portions configured to extend in front of the front end 553, the front rail 580, and/or the stop 556 when the product within the merchandise display system is low. In some embodiments, the low product indicator system 1000 may be adjustable such that a user may adjust the number of products at which the low product indicator system may indicate a low number of products.

Referring to fig. 107A-107F, in one embodiment, a low product indicator system 1000 can include a low product indicator device 1001 having a sidewall 1002, the sidewall 1002 including a front edge 1004, a rear edge 1006, a top edge 1008, a bottom edge 1010, a pusher side 1012, and a divider side 1014. The sidewalls 1002 may be substantially vertical. The sidewall 1002 may also include a raised portion or indicia 1016, which raised portion or indicia 1016 may extend forward of the front edge 1004 when the indicator device 1001 is in the forward position, as shown in fig. 107A. The raised portion 1016 may define a variety of shapes and may have different colors in order to attract store personnel to the low product indicator and thus to the shelf portion where the product is low. In some embodiments, the side walls 1002 may engage the back wall 1018. The back wall 1018 may be substantially perpendicular to the side walls 1002. In some embodiments, the side walls 1002 and the rear wall 1018 may be joined with a bottom wall. As shown in fig. 107A-107F, a low product indicator device 1001 may be located between a pusher 520 and a divider 550 or a divider wall 552. The low product indicator device 1001 may slide in the forward and rearward directions relative to the partition 550. In some embodiments, the low product indicator device 1001 may be slidably and/or releasably engaged with the divider 550.

The low product indicator device 1001 may engage with one or more portions of the merchandise display system such that the low product indicator device 1001 may move in the forward and rearward directions to substantially mimic the motion of the pusher 520 for at least a portion of the distance traveled by the pusher 520. The low product indicator device 1001 may engage one or more portions of the merchandise display system such that the side walls may move in the forward and rearward directions to substantially mimic the movement of the pusher through the use of the link mechanism 1019. In one example, as shown in fig. 107A-107F, the connection mechanism 1019 can be a magnet 1020. The magnet 1020 may be configured to magnetically engage one or more portions of the pusher member 520 and/or the biasing element 534. As shown in fig. 107A-107F, the magnet 1020 is configured to engage the biasing element 534 such that the low product indicator device 1001 moves with the pusher 520 (including the biasing element 534) as the pusher 520 (including the biasing element) moves in the forward or rearward direction. When the low product indicator device 1001 is moved in a forward direction, the front edge 1004 may contact the stop 556 or other similar device at a predetermined stop point. In this position, the low product indicator device 1001 may be restricted from further forward movement, and in this position, the raised portion or indicia 1016 may extend beyond the front end 553, the front rail 580, and/or the stop 556, indicating that the product within the merchandise display system is low. The biasing force of the biasing element 534 may be greater than the magnetic force exerted by the magnet 1020. This may disengage the magnet 1020 from the biasing element 534, which may allow the pusher 520 (including the biasing element 534) to continue to travel forward while the low volume product indicator device 1001 remains stationary. Once the pusher 520 (including the biasing element 534) is moved rearward, the magnet 1020 may reengage the biasing element 534. It should be understood that other forms of magnets or any device that generates a magnetic field may be used with these embodiments.

Referring to fig. 108A-108B, in another embodiment, the connection mechanism 1019 can include a biasing element 130, such as an extension spring. Similarly, as described above, the low product indicator device 1001 may be engaged with one or more portions of the merchandise display system such that the side walls 1002 may move in a forward and rearward direction to substantially mimic the movement of the pusher 520 through the use of the link mechanism 1019. In one example, as shown in fig. 108A-108B, the connection mechanism 1019 can be a tension spring 1030. As shown in fig. 108A-108B, the tension spring 1030 is configured to engage the pusher 520 such that the sidewall 1002 moves along the pusher 520 (including the biasing element 534) when the pusher 520 moves in the forward or rearward direction. As the side walls 1002 move in a forward direction, the front edge 1004 may contact the stops 556 or other similar devices at predetermined stop points. The biasing force of the biasing element 534 may be greater than the biasing force applied by the extension spring 1030. This may allow the pusher 520 to continue to travel forward while the low-volume product indicator device 1001 remains stationary. Once the pusher 520 moves rearward, the tension spring 1030 may contract and the low product indicator device 1001 may move rearward with the pusher 520. In alternative embodiments, the extension spring 1030 may be a compressed plunger, piston, actuator, or the like and extend in a manner similar to an extension spring.

Referring to fig. 109A-109D, in one embodiment, the low product indicator system 1000 may include an adjustable low product indicator device 1050. The adjustable low product indicator device 1050 can have a side wall 1052 with a front edge 1054, a rear edge 1056, a top edge 1058, a bottom edge 1060, a pusher side 1062, and a divider side 1064. As shown in fig. 109A-109D, the side wall 1052 may be located between the pusher 520 and the partition 550. The side wall 1052 may be adjustably engaged with the pusher 520. The side wall 1052 is slidable in the front-rear direction relative to the partition 550.

Referring to fig. 109B-109D, in some embodiments, adjustable low-volume product indicator device 1050 can be adjustably engaged with pusher member 520 in a variety of ways. As shown in fig. 109A, the bottom edge 1060 of the side wall 1052 may include a plurality of indexing recesses 1070. The pusher 520 may include one or more edges 1072 configured to engage the plurality of recesses 1070. The user may manually engage one or more recesses 1070 having one or more edges 1072, which one or more recesses 1070 may allow the user to select the distance that the front edge 1054 extends in front of the pusher 520. This may allow the user to select a product level at which the leading edge 1054 extends beyond the leading end 553, the leading rail 580, and/or the stop 556, thereby allowing the user to select a product level at which the low volume product indicator system 1000 alerts the user to the product in the inventory management system at a low volume. Other mechanisms for adjustably engaging the adjustable low product indicator device 1050 are shown, for example, in fig. 109C and 109D. As shown in fig. 109C, pusher 520 can include one or more hooks 1080, and the one or more hooks 1080 can be configured to engage one or more of the plurality of recesses 1070. Similarly, as shown in fig. 109D, the side wall 1052 may include a plurality of indexing pins 1090, which may be configured to engage one or more holes 1092 on the pusher 520, allowing a user to adjust the adjustable low product indicator device 1050. In other examples, the indexing recess 1070, edge 1072, hooks 1080, pin 1090, and hole 1092 may be reversed such that pin 1090 or indexing recess 1070 may be located on pusher 520 and edge 1072, hooks 1080, or hole 1092 may be located on side wall 1050. In other examples, the low product indicator device 1050 may simply be mounted to the pusher member 520. In other examples, the low product indicator 1050 may be slidably mounted to the pusher such that when the indicator 1050 contacts the stop 556 or other similar device at a predetermined stop point, the pusher will still move forward while the indicator remains stationary.

Referring to fig. 110A-110O, in one embodiment, a low product indicator system 1000 can include a low product indicator device 1101 having a sidewall 1102, the sidewall 1102 including a front edge 1104, a rear edge 1106, a top edge 1108, a bottom edge 1110, a pusher side 1112, and a divider side 1114. The sidewalls 1102 may be substantially vertical. The sidewall 1102 may also include a raised portion or indicia 1116, which raised portion or indicia 1116 may extend forward of the front edge 1104. In some embodiments, the side wall 1102 may engage the rear wall 1118. The back wall 1018 may be substantially perpendicular to the side walls 1102. The rear wall 1118 may include a raised or ribbed portion 1119, and the raised or ribbed portion 1119 may extend horizontally along the rear wall 1118. In some embodiments, the side wall 1102 and the rear wall 1118 may engage the bottom wall 1117. Bottom wall 1117 may be substantially perpendicular to sidewall 1102 and may have substantially the same length as sidewall 1102. Bottom wall 1117 may have a top side 1117A and a bottom side 1117B. The bottom wall may also include a protrusion or raised portion 1120, and the protrusion or raised portion 1120 may extend horizontally along the bottom wall 1117. As shown in fig. 110A-110O, a low product indicator device 1101 can be located between a pusher 520 and a divider 550 or a divider wall 552. The low product indicator device 1001 may slide in the forward and backward directions with respect to the partition 550. In some embodiments, the low product indicator device 1001 may be slidably engaged with the divider 550.

The low product indicator device 1101 can engage one or more portions of the merchandise display system such that the low product indicator device 1101 can move in the forward and rearward directions to substantially simulate movement of the pusher 520 for at least a portion of the distance traveled by the pusher 520.

Fig. 110B-110O depict a cycle of adding and removing product from an inventory management system having a low-volume product indicator device 1101 as described above. Fig. 110B depicts the inventory management system without product and in this position, pusher 520 and low product indicator device 1101 are each in a forward-most position. As shown in fig. 110B, the raised portion or indicia 1116 extends beyond the barrier 556, indicating that the product is low. The product (represented by the letter "P") may be inserted into the inventory management system, as shown in FIG. 110C. As product is inserted into the inventory management system, pusher member 520 moves rearwardly as indicated by arrow "R" in FIG. 110D. As shown in fig. 110E, once a predetermined number of products have been inserted into the inventory management system, the rear edge 524R of the pusher shoe 524 strikes the nub 1120, and the pusher 520 may begin to move over the nub 1120, as shown in fig. 110E and as indicated by arrow "R" in fig. 110E. As more product is added to the inventory management system, pusher 520 continues to move over nubs 1120, as shown in FIGS. 110F and 110G and as indicated by arrow "R" in FIGS. 110F and 110G.

As more product is added, the rear edge 524R of the pusher 520 may engage the rear wall 1118 of the low product indicator device 1101. In some embodiments, and as shown in fig. 6, and as shown in fig. 110H, a rear edge 524R of the pusher 520 may engage under the rib 1119 to releasably secure the pusher to the low product indicator device 1101. In some embodiments, the nub 1120 and rib 1119 may act together to releasably engage the low product indicator device 1101 and the pusher 520. The rib 1119 may serve to hold the rear edge 524R of the pusher down and into engagement with the nub 1120, which may prevent the pusher 520 from disengaging from the low product indicator device 1101. Thus, as additional product is added, the pusher 520 and low product indicator device 1101 move rearward together as shown in fig. 110I.

Similarly, when product is removed as shown in FIGS. 110J and 110K, pusher 520 and low product indicator device 1101 move forward together. Once the front edge 1104 of the low product indicator device 1101 strikes the stop 556 or other stopping device at a predetermined stopping point, the force from the biasing device or coil spring 534 may disengage the pusher 520 from the tab 1120. This may be as shown in fig. 110L, with the pusher beginning to travel over and forward of the bump 1120. In this position, the raised portion or indicia 1116 extends beyond the stop 556, indicating that the product within the inventory management system is low.

As product continues to be removed from the inventory management system, as shown in FIGS. 110M-110O, the pusher 520 travels over and in front of the nub 1120 until it reaches the stop 556 or other stop point, while the low product indicator device 1101 remains substantially stationary at the predetermined stop point.

Referring now to fig. 111A-112C, in one embodiment, a low product indicator system 1000 can include a low product indicator device 1201A, 1201b having a sidewall 1202, the sidewall 1202 including a front edge 1204, a rear edge 1206, a top edge 1208, a bottom edge 1210, a pusher side 1212, and a divider side (not shown). The sidewalls 1202 may be substantially vertical and may extend any suitable height. The low

product indicator devices

1201a, 1201b may also have a front wall 1218 extending from the front edge 1204 of the side wall 1202. Front wall 1218 may extend approximately 90 degrees relative to side wall 1202 and may extend any suitable length from side wall 1202. The front wall 1218 may have a top edge 1219, side edges 1220, and a bottom edge 1221. In some embodiments, and as shown in fig. 111A, a curve or radius may be formed between top edge 1219 and side edge 1220. Side edges 1220 may allow for easier removal of product from the merchandise display system. As will be discussed in more detail below, the front wall 1218 may be placed in front of a predetermined number of products that the user wants to indicate are a small number of products. Low volume

product indicator devices

1201a, 1201b may also include a bottom wall 1224 extending from bottom edge 1206 of side wall 1202. The bottom wall 1224 may extend about 90 degrees relative to the side wall 1202 and may extend any suitable length from the side wall 1202. The bottom wall 1224 may include a front edge 1226, side edges 1227, and a rear edge 1228. As will be discussed in more detail below, bottom wall 1224 may be placed below coiled spring 534 to removably engage low-volume

product indicator devices

1201a, 1201b with a merchandise display system.

As shown in fig. 111A, the low product indicator device 1101A may further include a raised portion or indicia 1236, and the raised portion or indicia 1236 may extend forward of the front edge 1204. The raised portions 1236 may define a variety of shapes and may have different colors to attract store personnel to the low product indicator, thereby attracting store personnel to the shelf portion where the product is low. In some embodiments, the low product indicator may not have a raised portion or indicia 1236. For example, the embodiment of low product indicator device 1201B shown in fig. 111B is similar to low product indicator device 1201A shown in fig. 111A, but the height of sidewall 1202 is lower and does not include raised portion 1236. As will be described in more detail below with reference to fig. 112A-112C, low product indicator device 1201b may alert store personnel to the low product indicator and thus produce a low shelf portion without using raised portion 112A.

Fig. 112A-112C illustrate a merchandise display system having two versions of low

volume product indicators

1201a, 1201 b. Although the low volume

product indicator apparatus

1201a, 1201b is shown for use in the merchandise display system shown in fig. 112A-112C, it may be retrofitted to many different existing merchandise display systems, including many systems having a pusher 520 and a coiled spring 534. In fig. 112A, each

version

1201a, 1201b has no product in the merchandise display system. An embodiment of a low product indicator 1201a is shown in which the pusher 520 is pulled toward the front of the merchandising system by a coiled spring 534. An embodiment of low product indicator 1201b is shown in a manually retracted position. As shown in fig. 112A-112B, sidewalls 1202 of low product indicator devices 1201a, 1201B may be located between pusher 520 and either divider 550 or divider wall 552. The low

product indicator devices

1201a, 1201b are slidable in the forward and rearward directions relative to the partition 550. Additionally, as best shown in the low product indicator 1201b embodiment, an indicator bottom wall 1224 may be located above the divider floor 554. Further, as shown in fig. 112A, particularly with reference to embodiment 1201b, low

product indicator devices

1201a, 1201b may be removably engaged with a merchandise display system such that coil spring 534 passes above bottom wall 1224 and below front wall 1218. Advantageously, the coil spring 534, including any product on top of the coil spring, can thus help retain the low product indicator on the divider floor 554. As shown in fig. 112A, and with particular reference to embodiment 1201a, the low product indicator bottom wall 1224 may extend below the pusher 520 as the pusher travels forward and/or once all of the product has been removed from the merchandise display system.

Similar to the embodiments discussed above, the low-mass

product indicator devices

1201a, 1201b may move in the forward and rearward directions to substantially mimic the movement of the pusher 520 for at least a portion of the distance traveled by the pusher 520. More specifically, the low

product indicator devices

1201a, 1201b are configured to move forward with the pusher 520 as the product closest to the front end is removed until a predetermined number of products are removed from the product display. This is the predetermined number when the user selects the indicated product quantity to be low. Once the low

product indicator apparatus

1201a, 1201b reaches the front of the merchandise display system or barrier 556, it cannot move further forward. However, the pusher 520 will continue to advance any product behind the low

product indicator devices

1201a, 1201b until all of the product is removed from the merchandise display system. Advantageously, the low

product indicator devices

1201a, 1201b may be adjusted for different sizes of product and the number of products displaying the low product indicator.

Fig. 112B depicts a forward position of low product indicator devices 1201a and 1201B without any product in the merchandise display system. Fig. 112C depicts a low product indicator 1201a with a product (represented by the letter "P") in a merchandise display system. The low

product indicator devices

1201a, 1201b are configured to move forward with the pusher 520 as the product closest to the front end is removed until a predetermined amount of product is removed from the product display. Advantageously, the low

product indicator apparatus

1201a, 1201b may be adjustable such that it may be placed in front of any number of products in the merchandise display system. This allows a user to select a predetermined number of products in the merchandise display system in which the low

product indicator devices

1201a, 1201b will be visible. As shown in fig. 112C, with reference to the two embodiments of the low product indicator means 1201a, 1201b, the predetermined number of low products is set such that one product remains behind the low product indicator means (1201 b is not visible in fig. 112C as it is placed between the two products displayed).

As can be seen in FIG. 112C, the user removes products from the front of the merchandise display system until a predetermined number of low products are reached. Once a predetermined number of low products are reached, low

product indicator devices

1201a, 1201b become visible. As shown in fig. 112C, raised portions 1236 or indicia may become visible. Specifically, the raised portion 1234 may extend to the front of the barrier when the amount of product located on the top surface of the divider floor is low. Additionally, in some embodiments, front wall 1218 of low-volume

product indicator devices

1201a, 1201b may be visible through barrier 556. In such embodiments, the obstruction 556 may be transparent, translucent, include an aperture, or otherwise be made such that the low-volume

product indicator devices

1201a, 1201b are visible.

Variations and modifications of the foregoing are within the scope of the present invention. For example, one skilled in the art will appreciate that many of the described components may be used in stores and in various configurations. Thus, the present invention is not limited to a single system nor to the upright pusher configuration shown in the drawings, as this system is merely illustrative of the features, teachings and principles of the present invention. It should also 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.

Claims

1. A merchandise display system comprising:

a pusher mechanism including a biasing device and configured to slide along the floor of the merchandise display system to move product toward the front end of the merchandise display system;

a stop configured to be positioned proximate a front end of the merchandise display system such that product on the floor contacts the stop as the product moves toward the front end of the merchandise display system;

a low product indicator device comprising a front wall and a bottom wall;

wherein the biasing means comprises a coiled spring; and

wherein the coil spring passes above the bottom wall of the low product indicator device and below the front wall of the low product indicator device.

2. The merchandise display system of claim 1 wherein the low product indication device further comprises a raised portion and wherein the raised portion is configured to extend forward of the barrier when the amount of product on the floor is low.

3. The merchandise display system of claim 1 wherein the barrier is transparent.

4. The merchandise display system of claim 3 wherein the front wall of the low product indicator device is visible through the barrier when the amount of product placed on the floor is low.

5. The merchandise display system of claim 1 wherein the low product indicator device is configured to move forward with the pusher mechanism as the product closest to the front end is removed until a predetermined amount of product is removed from the merchandise display.

6. The merchandise display system of claim 5 wherein the predetermined number of products is adjustable.

7. The merchandise display system of claim 6 wherein a bottom wall of the low product indicator device is configured to slide under the pusher mechanism when all of the product is removed from the merchandise display system.

8. The merchandise display system of claim 7 wherein the low product indicator device is removably engaged with the merchandise display system.

9. A merchandise display system comprising:

a pusher mechanism including a biasing device and configured to slide along the base plate to move products toward the front end of the merchandise display system;

A low volume product indicator device;

wherein the low product indicator device is configured to move forward with the pusher mechanism as the product closest to the front end is removed until a predetermined amount of product is removed from the merchandise display.

10. The merchandise display system of claim 9 wherein the predetermined amount of product is adjustable.

11. The merchandise display system of claim 9 wherein the low product indication device further comprises a raised portion and wherein the raised portion is configured to extend forward of the barrier when the amount of product placed on the floor is low.

12. The merchandise display system of claim 9 wherein the barrier is transparent.

13. The merchandise display system of claim 9 wherein the low product indicator means is visible when the amount of product located on the floor is low.

14. The merchandise display system of claim 9 wherein the low product indicator device is removably engaged with the merchandise display system.

15. The merchandise display system of claim 9 wherein the low product indicator device further comprises a bottom wall.

16. The merchandise display system of claim 15 wherein a bottom wall of the low product indicator device is configured to slide under the pusher mechanism when all of the product is removed from the merchandise display system.

17. The merchandise display system of claim 9,

wherein the low product indicator device further comprises side walls, a front wall and a bottom wall;

wherein the biasing means comprises a coiled spring; and

wherein the coil spring passes above a bottom wall of the low product indicator device and below a front wall of the low product indicator device.

18. A low product indicator device for a merchandise display system, the low product indicator device comprising:

a low product indicator device having a front wall and a bottom wall;

wherein the low product indicator device is configured for use with a merchandise display system having a coiled spring, and wherein the low product indicator device is configured to move forward as a product in the merchandise display system closest to the front end is removed; and

wherein the coil spring is configured to pass over a bottom wall of the low product indicator device.

19. A low product indicator device for a merchandise display system, wherein the low product indicator device further comprises a raised portion, and wherein the raised portion is configured to extend forward of the front wall of the low product indicator.

20. A low product indicator apparatus for a merchandise display system, wherein the low product indicator apparatus further comprises a sidewall; and wherein the coil spring is configured to pass under a front wall of the low product indicator device.