1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to theft deterrent systems for dispensing products. More specifically, the invention relates to dispensing devices that incorporate theft deterrent measures, such as time delays and sound.
2. General Background
Theft of small items in retail stores is an all too common problem. Items that are in high demand by thieves include over-the-counter (OTC) products such as analgesics and cough and cold medications, razor blades, camera film, batteries, videos, DVDs, smoking cessation products and infant formula. Shelf sweeping is a particular problem for small items. Shelf sweeping occurs when individuals or groups remove all the shelf stock and exit the store, similar to a “smash and grab” shoplifting technique. Shelf sweeping relies on excessive quantities of product being available on the shelf. Retailers must keep substantial inventory on shelf or incur the cost of constantly restocking.
In addition to preventing theft, retail stores may want to limit the purchase of certain items. For example, to make methamphetamine, large quantities of cold medication are needed. Pseudoephedrine, the sole active ingredient in many cold medicines and decongestants, is also a key ingredient in methamphetamine, a powerful and highly addictive stimulant.
Retailers are constantly challenged to balance the needs of legitimate consumers' access to high theft items with measures to minimize the incidence of theft. It has long been known to place items such as cigarettes, sodas and newspapers in vending machines. Such machines require complete self-service by the customer. The customer places money into the vending machine and the machine dispenses the desired item. Typical vending machines, however, do not allow for variation in product size and can only vend the particular item that they were designed for. Additionally, typical vending machines may be inconsistent with the way that people currently purchase items; many people prefer to use credit or debit cards instead of cash. Many vending machines also occupy a great deal of space. Finally, typical vending machines do not employ any mechanism to prevent a purchaser from quickly dispensing all the items in the vending machine.
Because theft has become so rampant in certain product categories, such as razors and infant formula, many retail stores are taking the products off the shelves and placing them behind the counter or under lock and key. Customers must request the products in order to make a purchase. This requires additional labor costs to provide individual service to customers who would normally not require it. It also makes it difficult for customers to compare products. Furthermore, it may be impossible where the space behind the counter is limited and is needed for prescription medications. In some cases, products are simply unavailable due to high pilferage rates. Therefore, a device or dispensing apparatus that minimizes the incidence of product theft is needed.
A common problem at pharmacies and grocery stores is ensuring that consumers have access to cold medication or razors, but at the same time deterring theft or multiple purchases for the production of drugs. A solution to the problem of sweeping is to limit the amount of product each customer is allowed to purchase. However, this requires additional labor and is not feasible where many stores now allow customers the option to check themselves out without the help of a cashier. Furthermore, this solution also keeps lawful products out of the hands of lawful consumers. Finally, legislation may be required in order to limit such purchases. A device or dispensing apparatus that minimizes the likelihood of sweeping or unusually high numbers of multiple purchases is needed.
Such a device or dispensing apparatus should also be able to fit within common grocery, drug store or other retail environment shelves. It is also desirable that the device or dispensing apparatus effectively display the products so consumers can easily identify the products. It is also preferable that the dispensing apparatus be easy to use.
Embodiments of this invention provide a system for dispensing product that deters theft of the product while also providing a dispensing system that is easy to use.
Embodiments of this invention may include one or more cabinet assembly units, which includes one or more dispenser modules. Each dispenser module generally includes a door assembly, a lockout assembly and side panels and houses at least one pusher assembly. Cabinet assembly units of this invention are easily adjustable, so that they may easily be restocked and reconfigured.
Certain embodiments of systems of this invention may incorporate a time delay feature, which requires someone who wants to remove more than one product from a dispenser to wait for several seconds between removal of each product. Certain systems of this invention may also include a lockout feature, so that only one pusher assembly may be activated to dispense a product at one time. In addition, some embodiments of this invention may include a drop down door, keyed locks and other mechanisms that prevent access to the product storage portion of the system.
Embodiments of the invention will now be described more fully with reference to the drawings.
Theft deterrent systems of this invention include one or more cabinet assembly units for dispensing products and for deterring theft of products. Theft deterrent systems of this invention may be configured so that only one product per dispenser may be removed at a time and only when the product is at the front of the assembly. This requires someone who wants to remove more than one product from a dispenser to wait for several seconds between removal of each product, which has been found to be a substantial deterrence to product theft.
A theft deterrent system of this invention may include a cabinet assembly, which includes one or more dispenser modules. In certain embodiments as shown in the drawings, the cabinet assembly 50 includes four dispenser modules 52. In other embodiments, cabinet assembly units may include various numbers of dispenser modules. As shown in
A cabinet assembly of this invention may be pre-manufactured and pre-assembled, obviating the need to use existing store shelves. As shown in
A single dispenser module 52 is shown in detail in
As shown in exploded view in
Hinge components 86 on the front lockout door 88 connect with alternating hinge components 90 and 92 on each of the slide lock cover 74 and the front bottom member 76. In this manner, front lockout door 88 is joined to both of the slide lock cover 74 and the front bottom member 76. In some embodiments, all of the hinges are integrally formed on those components. Lockout door 88 may be closed over the row of actuators (further described below), so that no product is accessible without the assistance of store personnel. Directions of use may be printed on the inside surface 96 of the lockout door 88 to aid a user when the lockout door 88 is open. Alternatively, other pertinent information may be printed on the inside surface 96 of the lockout door 88.
Each aperture 98 of front bottom member 76 is sized to receive a pin 100 that projects from a bottom surface of a pusher assembly unit 68 (further described below). Pin 100 passes through aperture 98 of front bottom member 76 and into channel 104 of the slide lock member 78. When the actuator 234 is depressed, the pin 100 moves toward the back of the cabinet in the channel 104. As shown in
A plurality of rear slots 106 of front bottom member 76 trap extended tabs (not shown) on the divider 70 and extended tabs 108 on the pusher assembly 68 (
Door assembly 64, shown in exploded view in
Certain embodiments of the theft deterrent system of this invention may be easily reconfigured and/or restocked by unlocking the front panel 110 of the door assembly 64. Keyed locks 124 are mounted in front panel 110. Arm 125 of lock 124 engages slot 126 of side plate 114 when in a locked position. Hinge components 128, 130 on each of the front panel 110 and the main door 112 are integrally formed on those components and join the two components together. In this manner, the front panel 110 easily swings downward to a fully open position to provide access to the modules when unlocked.
Slide assembly components 122, shown in
Slotted rails 134 of slide assembly components 122 slide in travel way 140 of side panel members 66 (shown in
Horizontal locking tabs 148 attached to side panel members 66 provide an additional lockout feature. Horizontal tabs 148 are perforated by a slot 150 which receives post 152 of side panel member 66 and allows horizontal tabs to slide forward and backward along the length of the slot 150. Sliding horizontal tabs 148 forward moves notch 154 of horizontal tab 148 over post 156 (
Main door member 112 includes a bottom 162 and two side plates 114. Each side plate 114 is perforated by a slot 126, which receives arm 125 of lock member 124, described above. Each side plate 114 is also perforated by a Y-shaped opening 164 and a curved opening 166, each of which receives one of two pins of upper door 116. First pins 168 of upper door 116 fit into the upper section of the Y-shaped opening 164, while second pins 169 of upper door 170 are received in curved opening 166.
As described above, main door member 112 and front panel 110 are joined by integral hinges 128, 130. As also described above, when the front panel 110 is locked, front panel 110 is secured to main door member 112 and cannot rotate to open on hinge components 128, 130. Thus, when locked, front panel 110 and main door member 112 function and move as a single component. Pulling on handle 172 of front panel 110 causes front panel 110 and main door 112 to pivot open about hinge post 173. First, pins 168 of upper door 116 drop down in the Y-shaped opening 164 and second pins 169 move through the curved opening 166 until the one or both of the pins reach the end point of the either opening. In this manner, the end points of the openings function as a stop preventing the front panel 110 from being fully extended in a forward direction and also limiting the travel of the front panel 110 and the main door 112. Post 175 on side plate 114 provides a point about which downwardly extending sides 177 of upper door 116 rotate when the front panel and main door are opened. Blind rivet 179 is received in a tab (not shown) of top cover 120 and prevents upper door 116 from dislodging during use.
Gear teeth 174 on top curved surface 176 of the side plates 114 engage damper 178. One damper 178 is housed in each damper housing 180 on each slide assembly component 122. Door spring 158 urges the door assembly to a closed position. One end of each door spring 158 is attached to a post (not shown) on each slide assembly component 122 and the remaining end is attached to a post 156 on each side plate 114. In this manner, the dampers 178 prevent the front panel 110 and the main door 112 from slamming shut and also prevent any dispensed product from jamming the unit before it is removed from the product dispensing area.
In certain embodiments and as shown in the figures, each end of the front lower 118 is attached to slide assembly components 122 using blind rivets 119, but may be attached by any suitable means. Front lower 118 is positioned just above the buttons of the pusher assembly units, further described below, and maintains the position of the modules when the slide assembly is closed.
Within each dispenser module is at least one pusher assembly unit 68 for advancing product, shown in
Pushing ram 188 includes a front surface 194 for engaging product and a rear surface 196. According to embodiments, the pushing ram 188 is rectangular plate, although other suitable shapes and geometries may also be used. Pushing ram 188 includes gusset 198 (shown in
As shown in
Products can be loaded in pushing assembly unit 68 by forcing pushing ram 188 backwards along track 184 and placing multiple units of the product against the pushing ram 188. As described above, spring 190 causes the pushing ram 188 to exert force on the products towards the front of the track 184.
As shown in
As shown in
Each pusher assembly unit 68 includes a product dispensing actuator, such as a button, lever or knob. According to certain embodiments and as shown in the Figures, the actuator is a mechanical button 234. A user pushes the button 234 to release a product. Button 234 includes slot 236 through which a post and snap member 238 of lifter slide 214, or any other suitable attachment mechanism, passes. In this manner, button 234 is connected to lifter slide 214 and button 234 slides freely along the length of the slot 236.
When button 234 is depressed and thereby moved in a rearward direction, stop 242 of button 234 contacts the forward edge 244 of ramp 246 of lifter slide 214, pushing lifter slide 214 in a rearward direction. As shown in
Continued depression of button 234 extends lifter springs 248, which are secured to the bottom of the lifter slide 214 and to the track 184. One end 252 of each spring 248 is attached to a hook 250 on track 184, while the second end 254 of each spring 248 is attached to a hook 256 on lifter slide 214, as shown in
Depressing the button 234 forces the lifter slide 214 in a rearward direction so that the lifter 258 is forced to slide up ramp 246 and through track opening 260. Lifter 258 lifts the next product held against lip 192 by pushing ram 188. Because of the tension in the spring 190, pushing ram 188 pushes the lifted product forward over the lip 192 and into the product dispensing area. The user then opens the front panel 110 to remove the product. As described above, opening front panel 110 causes the upper door 116 to drop down and meet main door 112, blocking access to the next product. In this manner, no other products are accessible to the user.
As one product is removed, the force of the spring 190 causes the pushing ram 188 to move forward along the track 184 until the first of the remaining products contact the lifter 258. As the lifter slide 214 returns to its forward most position, the lifter 258 retracts causing the pushing ram 188 to advance the first product until the product contacts the lip 192 and is positioned above the lifter.
The resistance motor 226 substantially reduces the speed at which the lifter slide 214 returns to its forward position. The internal gears of the resistance motor are preferably configured to provide resistance to the forward movement by limiting the rotation of the external gear 224. Because the external gear 224 engages gear teeth 222 of gear rack 220 and the external gear rotation is limited, the movement of the lifter slide 214 toward button 234 is substantially slowed.
In certain alternative embodiments of a pusher assembly of this invention, shown in
As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
Product can be loaded into the pusher assembly 270 by forcing pushing ram 272 backwards along track 274 and placing multiple units of the product against the pushing ram 272. A lip or wall may be located at the front of the display device so that the multiple units of product are located between the pushing ram and the lip. As described above, spring 286 causes the pushing ram 272 to exert force on the products towards the front of the track 274. Resistance motor preferably allows pushing ram to be forced backwards freely for loading of the product.
As one product is selected from the front of the pusher assembly 270, the compression of the spring 286 causes pushing ram 272 to move forward and the external gear 298 to rotate along gear teeth 294. This in turn causes the remaining product to move forward along track 274 until the remaining products engage the front lip 292. Resistance motor 278, however, substantially reduces the speed of this forward progression. The internal gears of the resistance motor are preferably configured to provide resistance to the forward movement by limiting the rotation of the external gear. Because the external gear engage the gear teeth of the track and the external gear rotation is limited, the movement of the pushing ram and therefore the remaining product to the front of the track is substantially slowed.
In other alternative embodiments, for example as shown in
Certain embodiments of the anti-theft system may include a sound to alert store employees that a product is being dispensed. The system preferably includes means for producing a clearly audible sound. For example, the system may include a clicker for providing an audible clicking sound. The clicker may be incorporated into a spring so that the sound is heard when the spring is recoiled after engaging the actuator. As shown in
In other embodiments, the sound producing mechanism may be incorporated into the resistance motor and may produce a ratchet sound. In other embodiments, the system can include an audible beeping sound. For example, engaging the actuator may activate an electronically produced beeping sound or an audible message when a product is dispensed. The audible sound alerts persons in the vicinity that a product is in the position to be removed. This may attract the attention of a store clerk or others and deter thieves or the removal of multiple product units.
In certain embodiments and as shown in
The foregoing description is provided for describing various embodiments and structures relating to the invention. Various modifications, additions and deletions may be made to these embodiments and/or structures without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/720,823, filed Sep. 27, 2005, the entire contents of which are herein incorporated by reference. This application is a continuation application of U.S. Ser. No. 11/528,032, filed Sep. 27, 2006, which is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/967,811, filed Oct. 18, 2004, which claims priority to U.S. Application Ser. No. 60/512,454, filed on Oct. 17, 2003, and which is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/409,885, filed Apr. 24, 2006, which claims priority to U.S. Application Ser. No. 60/674,880, filed Apr. 25, 2005, the entire contents of all of which are herein incorporated by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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60720823 | Sep 2005 | US | |
60512454 | Oct 2003 | US | |
60674880 | Apr 2005 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 11528032 | Sep 2006 | US |
Child | 12470649 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 10967811 | Oct 2004 | US |
Child | 11528032 | US | |
Parent | 11409885 | Apr 2006 | US |
Child | 11528032 | US |