Latching system for a merchandising apparatus

A sliding shelf latching system comprising:

• a shelf including a first side edge, a second side edge, a top surface and a bottom surface, the shelf being slidably mounted between a pair of side brackets and being movable between a vending position and a stocking position;
• a first latch assembly mounted to the shelf bottom surface adjacent the first side edge of the shelf, the first latch assembly including a first latch housing and a first latch member resiliently biased to an extended position in relation to the first latch housing;
• a second latch assembly mounted to the shelf bottom surface adjacent the second side edge of the shelf, the second latch assembly including a second latch housing and a second latch member resiliently biased to an extended position in relation to the second latch housing;
• a first cable connected to said first and second latch members, wherein said first cable is adapted to retract said first and second latch members in order to allow the shelf to be moved from the vending position to the stocking position.

A latching system for a gravity feed merchandising apparatus, comprising:

• a shelf slidably mounted between a first and a second side bracket, the shelf being adapted to move between a vending position and a stocking position;
• a first latch member operably mounted to one of the shelf and the first side bracket;
• a second latch member operably mounted to one of the shelf and the second side bracket;
• wherein the first and second latch members are located adjacent opposed side edges of the shelf;
• wherein the first and second latch members are each resiliently biased to an extended position;
• an actuating device for moving the first and second latch members to a respective retracted position thereby allowing said shelf to slide from the vending position to the stocking position.