# US 10,945,538 B2 · Product securement and management system

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- Number: US 10,945,538 B2
- Document ID: US10945538B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/876,543
- Filed: 2020-05-18
- Published: 2020-09-10
- Granted: 2021-03-16
- Earliest claimed: 2004-02-03
- Assignees: RTC Industries, Inc.
- Applicants: RTC Industries, Inc.
- Inventors: Stephen N. Hardy
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10945538B2

## CPC

- A47F 3/002: {Devices for protection against sunlight or theft}
- A47B 57/585: {with connection means slidable in a rail}
- A47B 57/586: {with connection means movable by sliding on the outside of a rail}
- A47B 65/15: {Partitions, e.g. dividers}
- A47B 73/006: {with modular arrangements of identical units}
- A47B 87/0223: {Shelves stackable by means of poles or tubular members as distance-holders therebetween}
- A47B 87/0269: {without separate distance holders}
- A47F 1/04: {Racks or} containers with arrangements for dispensing articles {, e.g. by means of gravity or springs}
- A47F 1/12: dispensing from the side of an approximately horizontal stack {(A47F1/087 takes precedence)}
- A47F 1/125: {with an article-pushing device}
- A47F 1/126: {the pushing device being urged by spring means}
- A47F 3/02: with dispensing arrangements ({A47F1/04 takes precedence; for cigars or cigarettes A24F15/04; for cigarette papers A24F17/00; for hand towels or toilet paper A47K10/24; for photographic paper G03B; } coin-freed G07F)
- A47F 3/14: Display trays {or containers (combined with racks A47F5/0025; tray partitions A47F5/005; as racks and transportable with merchandise A47F5/108; made of cardboard A47F5/11; stackable A47B87/02)}; (packing boxes used subsequently as display trays B65D)
- A47F 5/0025: {having separate display containers or trays on shelves or on racks}
- A47F 5/005: {Partitions therefore (horizontally adjustable A47B57/58; constructional details of drawers A47B88/90)}
- A47F 5/0068: {Shelf extensions, e.g. fixed on price rail}
- A47F 7/0007: {for stacked articles; Stabilising means therefor (for cans or bottles A47F7/281)}
- A47F 7/28: for containers, e.g. flasks, bottles {, tins, milk packs (racks or containers with dispensing arrangements A47F1/04; for lipsticks or markers A47F7/0021; for audio/video cassettes or booklike articles A47F7/14)}
- A47F 7/281: {for vertically-stacked containers; Stabilising means therefor}
- B42F 7/12: Stacked trays
- E05B 73/00: Devices for locking portable objects against unauthorised removal; Miscellaneous locking devices {(motorcycle helmets A42B3/0413; supporting arrangements specially adapted for fastening helmets B62J11/24; gun racks A47B81/005; showcases with theft protection A47F3/002; anti-theft means for peg-boards, grids or rods for hanging merchandise A47F5/0861; show stands, hangers, shelves with provision against unauthorised removal A47F7/024; for self-service hand-carts A47F10/04; locking skis A63C11/004; locking bolts, nuts or pins F16B41/00)}
- Y10T 29/49826: Assembling or joining
- A47F: SPECIAL FURNITURE, FITTINGS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR SHOPS, STOREHOUSES, BARS, RESTAURANTS OR THE LIKE; PAYING COUNTERS
- A47B: TABLES; DESKS; OFFICE FURNITURE; CABINETS; DRAWERS; GENERAL DETAILS OF FURNITURE (furniture jointing F16B)
- B42F: SHEETS TEMPORARILY ATTACHED TOGETHER; FILING APPLIANCES; FILE CARDS; INDEXING (reading desks A47B19/00; book rests A47B23/00)
- E05B: LOCKS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR; HANDCUFFS
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

A merchandising system that improves the merchandising of product by limiting the number and the frequency with which product can be removed from, for example, a merchandising shelf. The merchandising system may include a base configured to support product and a housing configured to engage the base. The housing may comprise a top wall, a first side wall, a second side wall, and a front retaining wall mounted to the base at an angle. The system may further include a spring-urged pusher movably mounted on the base. The system may further include an opening defined by the first side wall and the front retaining wall through which product may be removed.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A merchandising system, comprising: a base configured to support product; a housing configured to engage with the base, comprising a top wall, a first side wall, and a second side wall; a rotatable door assembly slidably engaged with the housing and the base, wherein the rotatable door assembly includes a door configured to hold one product, wherein the door moves from a closed position to an open position; a door spacer bar connected to the door wherein the door spacer bar is configured to rotate away from a front of the door; and a locking assembly that comprises a locking bar rotatably mounted to the base, wherein the locking bar moves from an extended position and an unextended position, and when the locking bar is in the extended position, the locking bar locks the door assembly.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, further comprising a spring-urged pusher movably mounted on the base.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The system of claim 2, wherein the locking bar locks the spring-urged pusher.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the door spacer bar further includes an attached end and a locking end, wherein the attached end is configured to connect to the door, and wherein the locking end is configured rotate away from the door.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The system of claim 4, wherein the locking end is configured to lock in place in one of a plurality of door spacer bar teeth.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The system of claim 5, wherein the plurality of door spacer bar teeth are configured to lock the locking end of the door spacer bar at a depth of the product.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the door spacer bar further includes a door spacer bar locking tab configured to lock in a top of the door spacer bar.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The system of claim 7, wherein the door spacer bar locking tab is configured to slide from an unlocked position to a locked position.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The system of claim 8, wherein the locking tab is configured to lock the attached end of the door spacer bar.

### Claim 10

A merchandising system, comprising: a base configured to support product; a housing configured to engage with the base, comprising a top wall, a first side wall, and a second side wall; a rotatable door assembly slidably engaged with the housing and the base, wherein the rotatable door assembly includes a door configured to hold one product, wherein the door moves from a closed position to an open position; a spring-urged pusher movably mounted on the base; a door spacer bar connected to the door wherein the door spacer bar is configured to rotate away from a front of the door; and a locking assembly that comprises a locking bar rotatably mounted to the base, wherein the locking bar moves from an extended position and an unextended position, and when the locking bar is in the extended position, the locking bar locks the door assembly and the spring-urged pusher.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The system of claim 10, wherein the locking assembly further comprises a locking latch that engages the locking bar when the locking bar is in the extended position.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, wherein the locking assembly further comprises a locking gear that includes a free end and a gear teeth end opposite the free end, wherein when the locking bar is in the extended position, the locking gear engages the locking latch to thereby lock the door assembly.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The system of claim 12, wherein a door spring is attached to the door and the free end of the locking gear.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The system of claim 13, wherein when the locking bar is in the extended position, the locking latch engages the gear teeth end of the locking gear which prohibits the uncoiling of the door spring and the door moving to the open position.

### Claim 15 (depends on 10)

The system of claim 10, wherein the locking assembly further comprises a ratchet shaft that is located in a slot on the base, wherein the slot extends longitudinally along the length of the base.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The system of claim 15, wherein the ratchet shaft includes at least one section that has a plurality of teeth extending along the longitudinal axis of the shaft and at least one section that is flat that extends along the longitudinal axis of the shaft.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The system of claim 16, wherein the locking assembly includes a pusher lock that is attached to the spring-urged pusher.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The system of claim 17, wherein when the locking bar is in the extended position, the ratchet shaft rotates such that the plurality of teeth face upwards towards the pusher lock and a pointed end of the pusher lock engages one of the plurality of teeth to prohibit the movement of the pusher.

### Claim 19 (depends on 10)

The system of claim 10, wherein the base further comprises a track, and wherein the pusher is adapted to engage the track.

### Claim 20

A merchandising system, comprising: a base configured to support product; a housing configured to engage with the base, comprising a top wall, a first side wall, and a second side wall; a rotatable door assembly slidably engaged with the housing and the base, wherein the rotatable door assembly includes a door configured to hold one product, wherein the door moves from a closed position to an open position, and wherein the door is made of a clear or transparent material that allows for the product to be viewed through the door; a door spacer bar connected to the door wherein the door spacer bar is configured to rotate away from a front of the door; and a locking assembly that comprises a locking bar rotatably mounted to the base, wherein the locking bar moves from an extended position and an unextended position, and when the locking bar is in the extended position, the locking bar locks the door assembly.