The accompanying drawings incorporated in and forming a part of the specification illustrate several aspects of the present invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings:
While the invention will be described in connection with certain preferred embodiments, there is no intent to limit it to those embodiments. On the contrary, the intent is to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents as included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
Referring to
The pusher system 10 comprises one or more front wall structure structures 28, two or more divider walls 30, and one or more pushers 32. For the sake of simplicity, the description will be had to a relatively simple embodiment having two divider walls, one front fence and a single pusher. However, it will be understood that product channels of the same or different widths can be created by utilizing three or more dividers with the front wall structure 28 and with one or more pushers installed into each product channel and connected to the front wall structure to self face product.
As shown in detail in
The horizontal base portion 40 extends between an upper face 42 directed upwardly toward the retail merchandise 12 and a lower face 44 directed toward, and generally engaged with, the shelf 12. In the illustrated embodiment, the vertical front wall and horizontal base portions 34, 40 are integrally formed with and transverse to each other. In addition, the horizontal portion 40 projects slightly forward from the front face 36 and substantially rearwardly away from the rear face 40.
Still referring to
In the illustrated embodiment shown in
Despite being illustrated as such, the vertical front wall portion 34 need not be a completely solid member. For example, in one embodiment, the vertical portion 34 is a fence, a slotted member, or another structure known to be used for retaining merchandise. By placing slots or apertures in the front portion, the merchandise 12 is more easily viewed. In one embodiment, all or a portion of the front wall structure 28 is formed from a transparent material to permit viewing of the merchandise 12. The front wall portion 34 (and/or base portion 40) also can form the front stop for the product channel formed between divider walls 30. One or more portions of the front wall structure 28 thus serve as a front stop to prevent retail merchandise product from falling off the front of the shelf.
Referring now to
As best shown in
The front end 76 of the divider wall 30 includes an upper hook retainer 82 vertically disposed above a lower hook retainer 84. The hook retainers 82 and 84 are spaced vertically the same general distance as the retaining rails 48, 50 of the front wall structure 28 such that they are adapted to engage and releasably lock with the elongated mounting clip 50, 52 of the front wall structure 28. In the illustrated embodiment, the hook retainers 82, 84 are integrally formed with the vertical wall and horizontal base portions 64, 70, respectively. As shown, the hook retainers 82, 84 are generally as wide as the width 30 of the horizontal portion 70. Even so, the hook retainers 82, 84 are wider or narrower in one embodiment. In
The front end 76 of each divider wall 30 also includes a relief 96 upwardly offset from the remainder of the horizontal portion 70. The relief 96 generally progresses from the front end 76 toward the rear end 78. The size and dimension of the relief 96 generally corresponds to the depth of the horizontal portion 40 forming a portion of the front wall structure 28.
Referring back to
Referring back to
When the divider walls 30 and the front wall structure 28 are secured together, the walls are in opposing spaced relation to each other as shown in
Despite being interlocked to the front wall structure 28, the divider walls 30 are laterally movable either toward or away from each other to increase or decrease the size of the receptacle 112. As such, retail merchandise 12 of a variety of different sizes and shapes is permitted within and accommodated by the receptacle 112. To ensure that unwanted movement of one of the divider walls 30 relative to the other wall does not occur after the walls have been suitably positioned, the pressure rib 94 on the finger 86 of the upper retaining rail 82 firmly engages with the channel 54 defined by the mounting clip 50. In other words, the divider walls 30 are held more securely in place after having been adjusted. The fit is snug enough to prevent the divider walls from moving out of place during use, but also allows a worker to manually readjust the relatively spacing of divider walls without special tools.
While separate divider walls are shown, it is possible in an embodiment for one of the divider walls 30 to be integrally formed with the front wall structure 28. As such, an “L-shaped” structure would be formed. In such an embodiment, a separate divider wall 30 that has not been integrally formed with the front wall structure 28 (but could be formed with another front wall structure) is interlocked with the L-shaped structure to form the receptacle 112. The non-integrally formed wall 30 is still able to slide toward and away from the integrally formed wall and re-size the receptacle 112.
As depicted in
As shown in
Moving to
In one embodiment, a bottom surface 134 of the spring chamber 130 includes an indicia, label, and/or marking indicating a strength of the spiral spring 132. For example, one of the letters “H”, “M”, or “L” is placed on the bottom surface 134 to indicate that the spiral spring 132 has a high, medium, or low spring force, respectively. In one embodiment, the strength indicator is suitably located elsewhere on the pusher housing 114 such as, for example, on a one of the sides 124.
In the illustrated embodiment, a first end 136 of the spiral spring 132 remains unattached to the pusher housing 114 while a second end 138 projects out of the pusher housing 114 through a bottom aperture 140 or slot. As shown, the second end 138 is generally secured to a mounting clip 142. In this arrangement, the mounting clip 142 and the spring force of the spiral spring 132 cooperate to maintain the spiral spring within the spring chamber 130 and keep the spiral spring biased against the inner wall 144 of the pusher housing 114.
The bottom aperture 140, which frees the second end 138 of the spiral spring 132 from the spring chamber 130, is formed at an intersection of the curved forward face 116 and the bottom face 122. Once clear of the pusher housing 114, the second end 138 travels over a rear portion 146 of the mounting clip 142. The rear portion 146 curves downwardly away from the pusher housing 114. The second end 138 next passes through an aperture 148 formed in the mounting clip 142. As illustrated, the aperture 148 extends between upper and lower surfaces 150, 152 and provides a passageway for the spiral spring 132 through the mounting clip 142. After the second end 138 passes through the aperture 148, the second end bends upwardly to engage a portion of the lower surface 152. As shown, the second end 138 also encounters a post 154 depending downwardly from the lower surface of the mounting clip 142.
As shown in
Referring back to
After the pusher 32 has been operably coupled to the front wall structure 28 via the mating retaining rails 48, 160, the pusher 32 is pulled away from the front wall structure. This action causes more of the spiral spring 132 to be drawn out of the pusher housing 114 through the bottom aperture 140. The further back the pusher 32 is moved, the more an unwound portion of the spiral spring 132 is extracted.
Referring back to
To more clearly illustrate the pusher 32 within the pusher system 10, in
Because the pusher 32 is biased forward toward the front wall structure 28 by the spiral spring 132, the edges 128 of the curved forward face 116 engage the last item in the row of retail merchandise 12 at a single contact point 170. In addition, a portion of the last item extends or recesses into the vertical channel 126. Therefore, the retail merchandise 12 is centered between the pair of walls 30 as well as maintained in an upright orientation as illustrated in
As
In the illustrated embodiment, the front wall structure 28, the walls 30, the pusher housing 114, and the mounting clip 142 are molded from a plastic such as being formed from a clear polymer resin, a polycarbonate, or another like material. As a result, these components or portions thereof have resilient properties and characteristics. Also, the spiral spring 132 is formed from stainless steel or other material capable of generating a spring force when rolled or otherwise curved.
In operation, a pair of walls 30 are coupled to the front wall structure 28 by mating the upper and lower hook retainers 82, 84 with the upper and lower retaining rails 46, 48. Thereafter, one of the walls 30 is laterally slid toward or away from the other wall to appropriately size the receptacle 112 to correspond to the size and dimensions of the retail merchandise 12. With the walls 30 in place, the mounting clip 142 of the pusher 32 is snapped onto the lower retaining rail 48 of the front wall structure 28. Next, the pusher 32 is pulled rearwardly away from the front wall structure 28. When this occurs, the spiral spring 132 is unwound and further extracted from the pusher housing 114.
With the pusher 32 in a retreated position away from the front wall structure 28, one or more items of the retail merchandise 12 are fitted between the front wall structure, the pusher, and the pair of walls 30 as shown in
As shown in
When the foremost item of retail merchandise 12 is extracted from the pusher system 10, the spiral spring 132 biases the pusher 32 and the remaining items forward toward the front face. The remaining items of retail merchandise 12 slide over and upon the unwound portion 168 of the spiral spring 132 and/or the shelf 12. At the same time, some of the spiral spring 132 retreats into the spring chamber 130 and gets wrapped about the rest of the spiral spring. This process continues until all of the retail merchandise 12 has been removed from the pusher system 10.
To refill the pusher system 10, the retail merchandise 12 is forced between the front wall structure 28 and the pusher 32. When this occurs, the pusher 32 is biased away from the front wall structure 28 to make room for the retail merchandise 12 in the receptacle 112 and the spiral spring 132 is unwound. As more items are added, the receptacle 112 is enlarged by moving the pusher 32 back away from the front wall structure 28 and further unrolling the spiral spring 132.
If the last item of retail merchandise 12 has been extracted from the receptacle 112 and the pusher happens to, for example, rotate slightly clockwise or counterclockwise (see
In one embodiment, and for wider retail merchandise product, several of the pushers 32 are employed within the pusher system 10. In such a circumstance, the pushers 32 are spaced apart from each other, individually coupled to the front wall structure 28, and interposed between the pair of walls 30 as noted above. By using multiple pushers 32, retail merchandise 12 that is larger, heavier, and/or oddly contoured is also able to be automatically faced.
Additionally, it should be noted that the pusher 32 is free of a central track. Instead, the pusher 32 can hook directly on the front stop (e.g. the front wall structure 28) for the product channel. The pusher 32 is free to move laterally (i.e. a direction traverse to forward and back) between the divider walls 30. The divider walls 30 may be spaced at a span substantial equal to the width of the pusher 32 such that the pusher engages with and will be guided by the divider walls 30 (it may engage either or both of the upright and/or base portions 64, 70 of the divider walls 30). In such a circumstance, the retail merchandise product channel may only be as wide as the lateral span/width of the pusher 32. Alternatively, the divider walls 30 may be spaced wider such that the pusher 32 may not directly contact the upright portion 64 of the divider walls 32. In this situation, the pusher 32 will tend to self center on product merchandise due to the recess and two lateral points of contact (particularly for cylinders, elliptical bottles or other curved merchandise), and the product will engage the divider walls 30. As a result, the divider walls 30 indirectly guide and/or indirectly engage (e.g. through the merchandise) the pusher 32. It is also contemplated that the pusher 32 may also engage the inner side of the base portion 70 of the divider wall to assist in guiding movement of the pusher 32 during use.
The pusher system 10, including the front wall structure 28, pair of walls 30, pusher 32, and mounting clip 142 are, in one embodiment, packaged and offered for retail sale together. In the alternative, one or more of the components are sold separately.
From the foregoing, those skilled in the art will recognize that the pusher system 10 automatically faces the retail merchandise 12. The pusher system 10 is more compact than conventional gravity feed systems and, therefore, requires less space on the shelf 12. The pusher system 10 also operates without tracks found in many standard pusher systems. By not using tracks, the pusher system 10 is less likely to clog up, jam, and/or malfunction. In addition, since the horizontal portion 70 or base on the pair of walls 30 is of sufficient size, the pusher system 10 is rigid enough to support the retail merchandise 12 within the receptacle 112 without using a rear stop or rear wall. The rigidity of the pusher system 10, even without the rear wall, prevents the walls 30 from bowing or bending outwardly away from the retail merchandise. By eliminating the rear wall used by conventional pusher systems, material is saved and the overall cost of the pusher system 10 is reduced.
All references, including publications, patent applications, and patents cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each reference were individually and specifically indicated to be incorporated by reference and were set forth in its entirety herein.
The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) is to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing” are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, but not limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention.
Preferred embodiments of this invention are described herein, including the best mode known to the inventors for carrying out the invention. Variations of those preferred embodiments may become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. The inventors expect skilled artisans to employ such variations as appropriate, and the inventors intend for the invention to be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, this invention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.