# US 11,076,707 B2 · Product management display system with trackless pusher mechanism

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- Number: US 11,076,707 B2
- Document ID: US11076707B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/912,795
- Filed: 2020-06-26
- Published: 2020-12-24
- Granted: 2021-08-03
- Earliest claimed: 2005-09-12
- Assignees: RTC Industries, Inc.
- Applicants: RTC Industries, Inc.
- Inventors: Stephen N. Hardy
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11076707B2

## CPC

- A47F 5/005: {Partitions therefore (horizontally adjustable A47B57/58; constructional details of drawers A47B88/90)}
- A47B 57/581: {specially adapted for shelves made of tubes or wire}
- 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 57/588: {by means of shelf bottoms with apertures co-operating with tongues or pins}
- 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 1/125: {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 5/0068: {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
- Y10T 29/49863: with prestressing of part
- 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)
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

A product management display system for merchandising product on a shelf includes using a trackless pusher mechanism that travels along a surface on which product is placed and one or more dividers for separating product into rows. The one or more dividers may be engaged to a front rail in two different conditions, locked and unlocked. In a locked condition, the relationship between the divider and the front rail resists alteration in any direction with respect to each other. In the unlocked condition, the dividers may be freely slid laterally along the front rail, while remaining perpendicular to the front rail. The one or more dividers may lock to the front rail through the use of corresponding teeth, resilient surfaces, a locking tab, a locking bar and/or a cam.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A merchandise display system comprising:
a front rail;
at least one divider configured to attach to the front rail, the at least one divider including
a barrier 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 wall, wherein the divider floor is configured to hold product; and
a resilient tab coupled to the barrier, the resilient tab comprising an extension from the front of the barrier, the resilient tab configured to move between a first position and a second position,
wherein application of a force moves the resilient tab from the first position to the second position, and removal of the force allows the resilient tab to move from the second position to the first position;
wherein the at least one divider is fixed in a lateral direction parallel to the front rail when the resilient tab is in the first position,
wherein the at least one divider is movable in the lateral direction parallel to the front rail when the resilient tab is in the second position.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The merchandise display system of claim 1, wherein the divider includes a plurality of teeth configured to engage the front rail.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The merchandise display system of claim 2, wherein the divider teeth are configured to engage corresponding teeth on the front rail.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The merchandise display system of claim 2, wherein the divider teeth are configured to engage a resilient surface on the front rail.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The merchandise display system of claim 1, wherein the front rail comprises an aperture configured to receive a mounting clip to prevent lateral movement of the front rail, wherein the mounting clip is configured to fit into a corresponding aperture on a shelf.