WO2022245874A1

WO2022245874A1 - Product merchandise display with resilient product package retainer

Info

Publication number: WO2022245874A1
Application number: PCT/US2022/029701
Authority: WO
Inventors: Christopher Peters; Lars Bruegmann
Original assignee: Bruegmann USA, Inc.
Priority date: 2021-05-18
Filing date: 2022-05-17
Publication date: 2022-11-24
Also published as: US20220369831A1

Abstract

A merchandise display includes a display base having a surface arranged to hold one or more longitudinal rows of product containers. The display base has either (i) an elevation of its back end higher than its forward end or (ii) a pusher arranged to urge product containers on the display surface toward the forward end. A retainer is mounted on the display proximate the forward end. The retainer is made as a single structure of at least one resilient material. The retainer is deflectable with reference to its mounting point to enable moving product containers onto and from the display surface by deflection. The retainer is sufficiently resistant to bending to retain a longitudinally full row of product containers on the product display surface.

Description

PRODUCT MERCHANDISE DISPLAY WITH RESILIENT PRODUCT

PACKAGE RETAINER

Background

[0001] This disclosure relates to the field of product merchandise displays. More specifically, the disclosure relates to product merchandise displays having forward barriers that deflect to enable removing individual product packages from the display.

[0002] U.S. Pat. No. 9,433,305 issued to Bird et al. discloses a product merchandise display. The disclosed display includes a retainer assembly for an associated merchandising structure including a planar divider mounted to the associated merchandising structure. The divider including a first side, a second side, a front end and a rear end. A first retainer is pivotally mounted to a first side of the divider adjacent the front end thereof. A second retainer is pivotally mounted to the second side of the divider adjacent the front end thereof. The first and second retainers are biased into an orientation normal to the plane of the divider. Each of the first and second retainers is adapted to pivot omnidirectionally in relation to the plane of the divider.

[0003] The retainers in the merchandiser disclosed in the ‘305 patent are made from substantially rigid, substantially incompressible material, such as injection molded ABS plastic. Deflecting the retainers includes pivoting an essentially rigid retainer rod, pin, plate or other barrier about its pivotal mounting to the divider. It has been observed by users of such merchandise displays that when a product package is removed by a user, the retainer(s) returning to the rest (undeflected) position may strike the user’s fingers, creating an unpleasant sensation.

[0004] The retainers disclosed in the ‘305 patent are assembled from a plurality of individual components, some of which are movable relative to each other in order to make the pivotal mounting feature. Having a plurality of movable components may provide spaces for accumulation of dirt and other contaminants.

[0005] It is desirable to have a merchandise display that is able to retain and dispense product packages in a manner similar to the merchandiser disclosed in the ‘305 patent that does not strike the user’s fingers to create an unpleasant sensation. It is also desirable to have a merchandise display having package retainers that do not provide spaces for accumulation of dirt and other contaminants.

Summary

[0006] One aspect of the present disclosure is a product merchandise display. A merchandise display according to this aspect of the disclosure includes a display base having a surface arranged to hold one or more longitudinal rows of product containers. The display base has either (i) an elevation of its back end higher than its forward end or (ii) a pusher arranged to urge product containers on the display surface toward the forward end. At least one retainer is mounted on the display proximate the forward end. The at least one retainer is made from a single structure made of at least one resilient material. The at least one retainer is deflectable with reference to its mounting point to enable moving product containers onto and from the display surface by deflection. The at least one retainer is sufficiently resistant to bending to retain a longitudinally full row of product containers on the product display surface.

[0007] A merchandise display according to another aspect of the present disclosure includes a display base having a product display surface arranged to hold at least one longitudinal row of product containers. The display base comprises at least one of: (i) an elevation of a back end of the display base being higher than a forward end of the display base; and (ii) a pusher arranged to urge product containers on the product display surface toward the forward end. At least one retainer is mounted on the display proximate the forward end. The retainer has a mounting feature and at least one barrier feature. The barrier feature extends to at least partially obstruct the at least one longitudinal row, and is coupled to the mounting feature by a resilient material such that the barrier feature is deflectable to reduce obstruction of the at least one longitudinal row when urged by a user moving a product container toward the at least one retainer.

[0008] In some embodiments, the at least one resilient material comprises an elastomer.

[0009] In some embodiments, the elastomer comprises polysiloxane. [0010] In some embodiments, the at least one resilient material comprises at least one opening, the at least one opening having at least one of a length and a diameter chosen to provide the retainer with a predetermined amount of deflection for a predetermined amount of deflecting force.

[0011] In some embodiments, the at least one retainer is mounted to the display base or a rail coupled to the forward end.

[0012] In some embodiments, the at least one retainer is mounted to a divider wall disposed transversely to the display base.

[0013] In some embodiments, the at least one resilient material comprises a shear modulus of at most 0.2 gigapascals.

[0014] In some embodiments, the shear modulus is at most 0.0003 gigapascals.

[0015] In some embodiments, the at least one resilient material comprises a Young’s modulus of at most 0.1 gigapascals.

[0016] In some embodiments, the at least one resilient material comprises a Young’s modulus of at most 0.001 gigapascals.

[0017] Other aspects and possible advantages will be apparent from the description and claims that follow.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0018] FIG. 1 shows an example embodiment of a resilient, flexible retainer used in a merchandise display according to the present disclosure.

[0019] FIG. 2 shows a plan view of an example embodiment of a merchandise display having retainers as shown in FIG. 1.

[0020] FIGS. 3A through 3E show the retainer of FIG. 1 being deflected to enable removal of individual product containers and restocking of product containers on various forms of merchandise display such as in FIG. 2. [0021] FIG. 4 shows an example embodiment of a retainer according to the present disclosure.

[0022] FIGS. 4A through 4D show various views of an example embodiment of a retainer.

[0023] FIGS. 4E and 4F show another example embodiment of a retainer.

[0024] FIGS. 4G and 4H show another example embodiment of a retainer.

[0025] FIGS. 4J, 4K and 4L show another example embodiment of a retainer being assembled to part of a display.

[0026] FIG. 5 shows the retainer of FIG. 4 in an example embodiment of a merchandise display.

[0027] FIGS. 6A through 6E show the retainer of FIG. 4 being deflected to enable removal of individual product containers and restocking of product containers on various forms of merchandise display such as in FIG. 5.

[0028] FIG. 7 shows an example embodiment of a merchandise display including retainers as explained with reference to both FIG. 1 and FIG. 4.

[0029] FIG. 8 shows a side view of the embodiment of FIG. 7.

[0030] FIG. 9 shows an example embodiment of a merchandise display base having retainers as explained with reference to FIG. 1.

[0031] FIG. 10 shows the example embodiment of FIG. 9 with a product package as it would be oriented when removed from the display by a user.

[0032] FIGS. 11 and 12 show views similar to FIGS. 9 and 10, wherein another example embodiment of a retainer may be used.

[0033] FIGS. 11A through 11D show other example embodiments of a forward barrier retainer.

[0034] FIGS. 13 and 14 show views similar to FIGS. 9 and 10 for a different type of display base, with the retainers as explained with reference to FIG. 1. [0035] FIGS. 15 and 16 show views similar to FIGS. 11 and 12 for the type of display base shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, with the retainers as explained with reference to FIGS. 11 and 12.

Detailed Description

[0036] Various embodiments of a merchandise display having one or more retainers according to the present disclosure may have a display base on which one or more product containers may be stored for access by individuals for removal for purchase or use. The display base may extend longitudinally to a length suitable for a particular number of product containers when full, and may extend laterally in one or more product “lanes” each of which defines one longitudinal row of product containers. The display base may have a display surface with one or more features to assist moving product containers toward a forward end of the display for user access to the product containers. Such features may include any combination of friction reducing devices such as rollers, or surface materials chosen to reduce friction. The display may also or alternatively be oriented such that the rear of the display is elevated above the forward end so as to use gravity to urge the product containers toward the forward end of the display, or the display may include one or more separate biasing devices known as “pushers” that use, for example, spring force to urge the product container(s) toward the forward end of the display.

[0037] Embodiments of a display according to the present disclosure may include one or more retainers disposed proximate the forward end of the display. The one or more retainers may be affixed to the display base, to a rail or other feature forward of or forming part of the front longitudinal end of the display base, and/or in side wall(s) that may be included to define lateral ends of the display and/or to divide the display into a plurality of product “lanes” each of which corresponds to a longitudinal row of product packages or containers stored on the display. The retainer serves the purpose of limiting forward movement of the one or more product packages in the one or more lanes in the display, while enabling a user to remove one or more such product packages using hand pressure. In some embodiments, the retainer(s) may also facilitate restocking of the display from the forward longitudinal end.

[0038] FIG. 1 shows an example embodiment of a retainer for use in a product merchandise display according the various aspects of this disclosure. The retainer 10 may be shaped, for example, in the form of a double-ended tapered cylinder having a first side 12 and a second side 12 extending in opposed directions from a center groove 16. The center groove 16 may be bounded on each of its sides by a respective a mounting flange 14. The first and second sides 12 may be shaped as shown in the form of tapered cylinder with a truncated end, wherein the diameter of the sides 12 decreases with respect to distance from the center groove 16. Other shapes may also be used in accordance with the present disclosure. The choice of diameter for a certain material selection may be related to retaining the maximum resting force or the maximum impulse (different for front and back loaded merchandising displays) of the typical product containers intended for a particular display. The mounting flanges 14 may be provided so that the retainer 10 may be pulled through an opening, to be described further below, having diameter approximately the same as that of the center groove yet smaller than that of the mounting flanges. In some embodiments, the center groove 16 may. be slightly larger in diameter than such opening to secure the retainer 10 into position. The selected hardness of the material(s) from which the retainer 10 is made may ensure a “compressibility” fit within such opening. Such opening may be disposed, for example, in a side wall such a lane divider, or in a rail, flange or other feature associated with a display, to be described in more detail below. Thus, mounting the retainer 10 to a display may be performed by pulling one of the first side or the second side 12 through the opening, until the associated mounting flange 14 is compressed and pulled through the opening to engage the center groove 16.

[0039] The retainer 10 may be made from a resilient, elastic material such as

Polysiloxane having compressibility and flexibility to enable mounting the retainer 10 in the opening as previously explained. Suitable compositions and mechanical properties of the retainer 10 will be further explained in more detail. Various embodiments of the retainer 10 may be molded or formed from a single, unitary piece of the chosen material. By making the retainer 10 into a single part or structure, it may be expected that the retainer will resist accumulation of dirt and other contaminants when used in a merchandise display. While the retainer 10 may be made as a single structure, it should also be understood that the retainer 10 may be made from more than one single material formed into the single structure. It should also be understood that the structure of the retainer 10 may be assembled from more than one component provided that the assembled components act as a single structure, that is, as assembled, the components may flex or bend, but the components do not move with respect to each other. As an example, two partial sections of the retainer 10 may be assembled by fusing, adhesive bonding, threading or interference fit, and when so assembled behave in the manner of a single structure made from the same material(s). Both the foregoing variants are intended to be within the scope of the term “single structure.”

[0040] “Single structure” may also be used to mean variants of the structure shown in

FIG. 1 in which, for example the end(s) 12 or the mounting flange 14 are hollow for convenience of molding the retainer 12, where any surface expression of the hollow interior such as an opening may be filled with resilient material or another material. Thus, while such structure does not meet the literal definition of “single structure”, it is an equivalent by reason of performing substantially the same function as a single component retainer, in substantially the same way (i.e., using material resilience to bias the ends to a rest position) to obtain the same result as a single structure resilient retainer. An example of an embodiment showing such openings and fill material is shown in FIGS. 4A through 4D, showing a form of the retainer to be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 4. Specifically, the retainer 10A may comprise a side 12A that for convenience of the molding process may include an openingl2A-l. The opening 12A-1 may be filled with a plug 12B made from the same or a different material than the retainer 10 A. The retainer 10A may be mounted to a side wall (22 in FIG. 2) directly into a feature for such purpose in the side wall (22 in FIG. 2) or into an attachment clip 22A that may be affixed to such side wall (22 in FIG. 2) at a suitable location.

[0041] The opening 12A-1 may traverse a length and/or have a diameter chosen to provide the retainer with more flexibility than would otherwise be obtained with any specific resilient material. That is, the amount of force required to deflect the retainer may be reduced with respect to a specific resilient material by lengthening the opening 12A-1 and/or increasing its diameter. The reverse may also be the case, that is, a particular material requiring relatively low force to deflect a specific amount may have such force increased by reducing the length and/or diameter of the opening 12A-1. Although the opening 12A-1 is shown as having a surface expression, it is within the scope of this disclosure for the opening to be entirely internal to the surface of the retainer or any part of the retainer.

[0042] In some embodiments, at least two different materials may be combined to form a single structure for the retainer 10, where at least one material comprises the majority of the structure, and at least one other, more resilient and flexible material may be disposed in a convenient part of the structure to act in the manner of a hinge like connector between two or more parts of the structure.

[0043] In some embodiments, the retainer 10 may also be made from a plurality of components assembled to form the completed retainer. The components need not all be made from a resilient material or the same material. It is only necessary to have some form of resilient coupling between the side(s) 12 and the mounting feature, e.g., the mounting flange 14 and/or that the sides(s) 12 are made from resilient material. Thus, in a structure having the shape of the example embodiment shown in FIG. 1 : (i) the first side 12 (and the second side 12 for double sided retainers) may be coupled to the mounting flange 14 by a resilient material link (not shown); (ii) the first side 12 and second side 12 if used may themselves be made from a resilient material; or (iii) the mounting flange or corresponding mounting feature may be made from resilient material. It will be appreciated that making the side(s) 12 from resilient material may provide the benefit of the retainer not inducing an unpleasant sensation in the user’s hand or fingers when a product container is removed from the display. The amount of resilience needed in any such embodiment, whether the resilient material is used for the sides, the mounting flange and/or a material link should be chosen such that the forwardmost product container in a longitudinal row of such containers may be readily removed by reducing the obstruction of the retainer across the row under hand pressure of the user, while having enough retaining force to hold the product containers in the row otherwise.

[0044] In some embodiments, the retainers may be made from a combination of rigid and resilient materials. FIGS. 4E and 4F show an example embodiment of a retainer 110 that may have sides 112 and mounting flange 114 made from rigid material, or a first resilient material, and a connecting link 113 made from a different resilient material than the first resilient material, or may be made from a resilient material when the sides 112 and mounting flanges 114 are made from rigid material..

[0045] FIGS. 4G and 4H show another example embodiment of a retainer 110A that may be made by combining three components 111 of a rigid material or first resilient material, and connecting links 113 that may be made from a resilient material when the other components 111 are made from resilient material, or from a different resilient material when the other components 111 are made from the first resilient material.

[0046] FIGS. 4J, 4K and 4L show an example embodiment wherein the plug 12B may be used to mount the retainer 12 to the side wall (22 in FIG. 2) or attachment clip 22 A. In such embodiments, the plug 22 may extend through the wall or attachment clip 22A and be inserted into the retainer as explained above.

[0047] FIG. 2 shows a top view of an example embodiment of a merchandise display 20 having retainers 10 as explained with reference to FIG. 1. In a general sense, a product display in accordance with the present disclosure may have a display base 20A of any configuration usable to store one or more product packages 24. The merchandise display 20 may extend longitudinally between a back end 20B and a forward end 20C in a chosen length to store a desired number of product packages 24, which number may be related to the dimensions and shape of such product packages. Various embodiments of a merchandise display may include features to move the product packages 24 toward the forward end 20C as product packages are removed by users as is the ordinary purpose of the merchandise display 20. Such features may include, both type of which will be described below with reference to specific examples, a pusher using spring or other biasing device force to urge the product containers, and orienting the merchandise display 10 so that the back end 20B is elevated above the forward end 20C such that gravity urges the product packages 24 toward the front end 20C. Where the merchandise display is so oriented, the display base 20A may comprise a friction reducing surface, such as may be formed by a plurality of rollers mounted on the display base 20A directly or in a roller frame. An example roller/roller frame that may be used in some embodiments is sold under the trademark FLEXROLLER, which is a registered trademark of Bruegmann USA, Inc., Houston, TX.

[0048] In the present example embodiment, the display base 20A may have affixed thereto, either adjustably or in fixed position, one or more side walls 22. The side walls

22 extend in a plane generally transverse to the plane of the display base 20A and may define, depending on the number of such side walls 22, one or more product “lanes”, which are longitudinal rows for storing product containers 24 as shown in FIG. 2. The number of such side walls 22 is not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure; some embodiments may not have any separate side wall or walls attached to the display base 20 A. One or more retainers 10 as explained with reference to FIG. 1 may be disposed in the side wall(s) 22 such as shown in FIG. 1 proximate the forward end 20C of the display base 20A. The one or more retainers 10 may be disposed in corresponding openings (FIGS. 7 and 8) through which the retainer may be attached as explained with reference to FIG. 1. In the example embodiment of FIG. 2, one retainer extends toward a center of the product lane from and as defined by each of the side walls 22. Thus, a double ended retainer 10 as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 may provide a forward stop feature in each of two adjacent product lanes in a multiple lane merchandise display. Only one of such lanes is shown in FIG. 2 for clarity of the illustration.

[0049] FIGS. 3 A through 3E show the retainer 10 of FIG. 2 in its corresponding opening

23 in the side wall 22, where the first and second sides 12 are shown, in successive order of FIGS. 3A through 3E: in FIG. 3A, fully deflected forward to enable removal of product packages (24 in FIG. 2); in FIG. 3B, less deflected forward as would be the case when a user begins to remove a product package, or a static amount of deflection when a product lane is fully loaded; in FIG. 3C in a neutral or unloaded position, such as when there are no product packages in the respective lane; and FIGS. 3D and 3E as the retainer 10 is deflected rearward, such as when the lane is restocked with product packages from the front end (20C in FIG. 2).

[0050] FIGS. 4, 5 and 6A through 6E show views corresponding to those in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3A through 3E. With specific reference to FIG. 4, another embodiment of the retainer 10A may comprise only one side 12A, and have, opposed to the one side 12A across the center groove 16 A, a stop flange 15 A. The embodiment shown in FIG. 4 may be mounted in the same way as explained with reference to the embodiment of FIG. 1, the only difference being that the retainer 10A extends away from the corresponding mounting surface on only one direction. Thus, as may be observed with reference to FIG. 5, a merchandise display 20 having only one product lane may have the retainer 10A as shown in FIG. 4 mounted to the respective side walls 22 so as to direct the side (12A in FIG. 4) of the retainer 10A toward the center of the product lane so defined.

[0051] FIGS. 6A through 6E correspond to FIGS. 3A through 3E and show deflection of the side 12A in the same manner.

[0052] FIG. 7 shows a merchandise display 30 having a plurality of product lanes defined by side walls 22 laterally spaced apart along the display base 32. For the side walls 22 that define the lateral outward edges of the merchandise display 30, one or more retainers 10A as explained with reference to FIG. 4 may be used proximate the forward end of the merchandise display 30. For those of the side walls 22 that separate and define adjacent product lanes, double sided retainers 10 as explained with reference to FIG. 1 may be used proximate the forward end of the merchandise display 30. The merchandise display 30 shown in FIG. 7 may use gravity to urge product containers toward the forward end (e.g., IOC in FIG. 2), and in such case may have the back end (e.g., 10B in FIG. 2) elevated by resting on a rail 33, or by suitable mounting to a display case or vertical support of any type known in the art. Also in such case, the display base 32 may comprise one or more tracks of rollers, such as the FLEXROLLER roller/roller frame set forth above.

[0053] A side view of one of the lateral endmost side walls 22 is shown in FIG. 8 to illustrate a possible use of the divider explained with reference to FIG. 4. [0054] FIGS. 9 and 10 show views corresponding to those of FIGS. 7 and 8, wherein the display base 32 may have a rail 32A or similar device proximate the forward end. The rail 32A may comprise one or more retainers 10A as explained with reference to FIG. 4 extending upward from the plane of the display base 32A to provide a limit to further forward movement of product packages on the display base 32. Side walls are omitted from FIG. 9 for clarity of the illustration, however, it should be understood that one or more side walls (e.g., 22 in FIGS. 2 and 6) may be affixed to the display base 32 to define one or more product lanes and/or the lateral edges of the merchandise display 30.

[0055] FIG. 10 shows a side view of the merchandise display of FIG. 9, wherein a product package 24 is shown as it would be oriented when a user removes it from the merchandise display; deflection of the retainer 10A is shown to illustrate the flexible property of the retainer 10A used to enable removing such product package 24.

[0056] An example embodiment of a barrier-type retainer 10B affixed to the front end of a merchandise display 30 is shown in FIG. 11. The display base 32 may be similar to that explained with reference to FIG. 9. In the present example embodiment, the front rail 32A may comprise retaining features, such as a groove, channel, internal rail or the like to mate with corresponding features on a barrier 10B. The barrier may be made from a resilient material that may be a similar material or the same material as the retainers explained with reference to FIGS. 1 and 4. The barrier 10B may be approximately triangular cross-section or other shape, and may extend along part or all of the lateral dimension of the merchandise display 30. The barrier 10B may be more broadly defined as a retainer with reference to the term “retainer” as it is intended to in this disclosure. Being made of such resilient material, the barrier 10B may flexibly be moved to allow taking product containers off the display base 32 as may be observed in FIG. 12. The merchandise display 30 may also be restocked from the forward end by flexing the barrier 10B in a direction toward the back end of the merchandise display.

[0057] FIGS. 11 A and 1 IB show another example embodiment of a barrier 210, wherein a face 212 of the barrier 210 is made from a rigid material or a first resilient material, and a part of the barrier 213 that engages the front rail 32 may be made from a second resilient material or a resilient material when the face 212 is made from rigid material. FIGS. llC and 11D show another example embodiment wherein each barrier 210 may comprise three separate parts 212 of rigid material or a first resilient material, and interconnecting parts 211 made from a resilient material or a second resilient material when the separate parts 212 are made from resilient material.

[0058] FIGS. 13 and 14 show similar views as FIGS. 11 and 12 for another example embodiment of a merchandise display in accordance with the present disclosure. The merchandise display 40 may include a display base 41 that may have one or more laterally adjacent product lanes, as in other described embodiments. A display base 41 may have one or more features to attached, movably along a longitudinal dimension of the display base 41, one or more pushers 42 that use spring force or other biasing device to urge a pusher face 42A toward the front end of the merchandise display 40. Various embodiments may comprise one or more side walls 22 to define product lanes and/or the lateral extent of the merchandise display 40. A front rail 40A may be affixed to the forward longitudinal end of the display base 41 and may have features for and mounted within such features one or more retainers 10 A, such as explained with reference to FIG. 4. A side view of the merchandise display 40 is shown in FIG. 14 to illustrate deflection of one of the retainers 10A (or the retainer in embodiments having only one retainer) when a product package 24 is removed. It will be appreciated that restocking such merchandise display 40 will be possible with opposed deflection of the retainer 10 A. The embodiment illustrated in FIG. 13 may comprise two such retainers 10A proximate the forward end of each product lane; it is within the scope of this disclosure to have only one such retainer per product lane, or any other number of such retainers in per product lane in accordance with the present disclosure. It will also be appreciated that in embodiments making use of one or more pushers as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the display base 41 need not be oriented to use gravity, nor need the display base 41 have friction reducing features such as rollers or a friction reducing material applied to the product support surface of the display base 41.

[0059] Some embodiments of a merchandise display using one or more pushers may in addition or substitution to the retainers shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, have a barrier 10B as explained with reference to FIGS. 11 and 12. Views of one such embodiment, corresponding to the views of FIGS. 13 and 14, are shown, respectively in FIGS. 15 and 16 to illustrate possible placement of a barrier 10B as explained above.

[0060] In the disclosed embodiments of a retainer, the retainer may be described as deflectable with reference to its mounting point. That is, the part of the retainer in contact with the part of the merchandise display to affix the retainer, e.g., one of the side walls and shown in FIGS. 2, 5 and 7, or the front rail as shown in FIGS. 9, 11, 13 and 15, remains in fixed position when a product container is moved against the barrier. The remainder of the retainer not in contact with the merchandise display will deflect to an extent depending on the distance from the mounting point and the force applied by the product container as it is moved. The retainer may be shaped and made from material, and have a number of such retainers in each product lane such that the users’ hand may readily remove one or more product containers (e.g., 24 in FIG. 5) from the merchandise display, may restock product containers onto the merchandise display, and the retainer may restrain onto the merchandise display a full longitudinal row or lane (in the one or each lane) of the specific product containers intended to be merchandised from the merchandise display.

[0061] Considerations in the selection of material for retainers (and barriers, defined functionally as retainers herein) and/or properties of the material may include the following.

[0062] In some embodiments, the material(s) from which the retainer is made may have a very low shear modulus, for example, at most 0.2 gigapascals (GPa). In some embodiments, the shear modulus may be at most 0.0003 GPa at room temperature. Young’s Modulus of the material may be at most 0.1 GPa. The shape of the retainer (10 in FIG. 1) may be chosen to provide sufficient restraining force to retain product containers on the display when the retainer is in its undeflected position, yet may be sufficiently flexible for easy deflected under a user’s hand pressure in an intended shopping or stocking motion of such product containers. Such choice of material properties and shape of the retainer (10 in FIG. 1) are with the purpose of reducing the lifting/strength/physical constraining requirements over or around a rigid retainer, while still providing or maintaining the retaining qualities of a barrier.

[0063] The physical design of the retainer (10 in FIG. 1) as explained with reference to

FIG. 1, for example, may provide the retaining force by appropriate choice of cross- sectional area of the end(s) (12 in FIG. 1) a specific distance away from the center groove (16 in FIG. 1). In general, the smaller the cross-sectional area at the base, near the point of contact between the forwardmost product container and the retainer (10 in FIG. 1) the higher the deflection for any specific amount of applied force.

[0064] For elastomers the slope of the stress/strain curve increases with stress, such that the further the end (12 in FIG. 1) is deflected, the greater the retaining force is applied against the forwardmost product container, and such product container will be retained up to a certain force limit, which helps “catch” the product container to retain it.

[0065] It is further desirable to have a material choice for a flexible retainer according to the present disclosure that maintains its characteristics in typical hot and cold environments encountered in retail product container displays, where the display may be used in locations comprising a range from deep freezers (e.g., to as low as -40°F to outside in direct sunlight and heat). Polysiloxane may be a particularly suitable material for the retainer (10 in FIG. 1) because it has consistent mechanical properties from about -150 to 570°F.

[0066] In light of the principles and example embodiments described and illustrated herein, it will be recognized that the example embodiments can be modified in arrangement and detail without departing from such principles. The foregoing discussion has focused on specific embodiments, but other configurations are also contemplated. In particular, even though expressions such as in “an embodiment," or the like are used herein, these phrases are meant to generally reference embodiment possibilities, and are not intended to limit the disclosure to particular embodiment configurations. As used herein, these terms may reference the same or different embodiments that are combinable into other embodiments. As a rule, any embodiment referenced herein is freely combinable with any one or more of the other embodiments referenced herein, and any number of features of different embodiments are combinable with one another, unless indicated otherwise. Although only a few examples have been described in detail above, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible within the scope of the described examples. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of this disclosure as defined in the following claims.

Claims

Claims What is claimed is:

1. A merchandise display, comprising: a display base having a product display surface arranged to hold at least one longitudinal row of product containers, the display base comprising at least one of, (i) an elevation of a back end of the display base being higher than a forward end of the display base, or (ii) a pusher arranged to urge product containers on the product display surface toward the forward end; and at least one retainer mounted on the display proximate the forward end, the retainer made as a single structure of at least one resilient material, the at least one retainer deflectable with reference to a mounting point of the at least one retainer to enable moving product containers onto and from the product display surface by deflection, the at least one retainer sufficiently resistant to bending to retain a longitudinally full row of product containers on the product display surface.

2. The merchandise display of claim 1 wherein the at least one resilient material comprises an elastomer.

3. The merchandise display of claim 2 wherein the elastomer comprises polysiloxane.

4. The merchandise display of claim 2 wherein the at least one resilient material comprises at least one opening, the at least one opening having at least one of a length and a diameter chosen to provide the retainer with a predetermined amount of deflection for a predetermined amount of deflecting force.

5. The merchandise display of claim 1 wherein the at least one retainer is mounted to the display base or to a rail coupled to the forward end.

6. The merchandise display of claim 1 wherein the at least one retainer is mounted to a divider wall disposed transversely to the display base.

7. The merchandise display of claim 1 wherein the at least one resilient material comprises a shear modulus of at most 0.2 gigapascals.

8. The merchandise display of claim 7 wherein the shear modulus is at most 0.0003 gigapascals.

9. The merchandise display of claim 1 wherein the at least one resilient material comprises a Young’s modulus of at most 0.1 gigapascals.

10. The merchandise display of claim 1 wherein the at least one resilient material comprises a Young’s modulus of at most 0.001 gigapascals.

11. A merchandise display, comprising: a display base having a product display surface arranged to hold at least one longitudinal row of product containers, the display base comprising at least one of, (i) an elevation of a back end of the display base being higher than a forward end of the display base, or (ii) a pusher arranged to urge product containers on the product display surface toward the forward end; and at least one retainer mounted on the display proximate the forward end, the at least one retainer comprising a mounting feature and at least one barrier feature, the at least one barrier feature extended to at least partially obstruct the at least one longitudinal row, the at least one barrier feature coupled to the mounting feature by a resilient material such that the at least one barrier feature is deflectable to reduce obstruction of the at least one longitudinal row when urged by a user moving a product container toward the at least one retainer.

12. The merchandise display of claim 11 wherein the at least one resilient material comprises an elastomer.

13. The merchandise display of claim 12 wherein the elastomer comprises polysiloxane.

14. The merchandise display of claim 12 wherein the at least one resilient material comprises at least one opening, the at least one opening having at least one of a length and a diameter chosen to provide the retainer with a predetermined amount of deflection for a predetermined amount of deflecting force.

15. The merchandise display of claim 11 wherein the at least one retainer is mounted to the display base or to a rail coupled to the forward end.

16. The merchandise display of claim 11 wherein the at least one retainer is mounted to a divider wall disposed transversely to the display base.

17. The merchandise display of claim 11 wherein the at least one resilient material comprises a shear modulus of at most 0.2 gigapascals.

18. The merchandise display of claim 16 wherein the shear modulus is at most 0.0003 gigapascals.

19. The merchandise display of claim 11 wherein the at least one resilient material comprises a Young’s modulus of at most 0.1 gigapascals.

20. The merchandise display of claim 11 wherein the at least one resilient material comprises a Young’s modulus of at most 0.001 gigapascals.

21. The merchandise display of claim 11 wherein the at least one barrier feature is made from at least one resilient material.

22. The merchandise display of claim 11 wherein the mounting feature is made from at least one resilient material.

23. The merchandise display of claim 11 wherein the at least one barrier feature and the at least one mounting feature are made from at least one resilient material.

24. The merchandise display of claim 23 wherein the at least one barrier feature and the at least one mounting feature are made as a single structure.

25. The merchandise display of claim 23 wherein the at least one barrier feature and the at least one mounting feature are made as a single structure and from a same resilient material.