Secure merchandising system
AssigneeRock-Tenn Shared Services, LLC
InventorsRoger K. Miller, Paul Dowd, Patrick Davey Shealey
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems for deterring theft of retail products. Systems of this invention provide theft deterrent dispensing modules for dispensing products and may incorporate theft deterrent measures including mechanical deterrents, time delays and sound. The dispensing modules may include one or more pusher assemblies for dispensing product. Certain systems of this invention may also include a lockout feature, so that one only pusher assembly may be activated to dispense a product at one time. In some embodiments, a door assembly may be provided as an additional theft deterrent mechanism so that access to additional product not yet dispensed by the pusher assembly is restricted.
Claims33
A dispensing module comprising:
- (a) a door assembly having an open position and a closed position comprising:
- (i) a tray;
- (ii) a front panel having a top surface, the front panel being movable between a closed position and an open position;
- (iii) a top panel;
- (iv) a door arm that couples movement between the front panel and the top panel;
- and
- (v) a link arm that couples movement between the tray and the top panel,
- wherein as the front panel moves from the closed position to the open position, the tray rotates toward a front of the dispensing module and the top panel rotates so that the top panel is positioned relative to the top surface of the front panel in a manner that blocks access to any product stored inside the dispensing module;
- and
- (b) one or more pusher systems for pushing product forward.
A cabinet assembly comprising:
- (a) a housing;
- (b) a plurality of dispensing modules further comprising:
- (i) a door assembly having an open position and a closed position comprising:
- (1) a tray;
- (2) a front panel having a top surface, the front panel being movable between a closed position and an open position;
- (3) a top panel;
- (4) a door arm that couples movement between the front panel and the top panel;
- and
- (5) a link arm that couples movement between the tray and the top panel,
- wherein as the front panel moves from the closed position to the open position, the tray rotates toward a front of the dispensing module and the top panel rotates so that the top panel is positioned relative to the top surface of the front panel in a manner that blocks access to any product stored inside the dispensing module;
- and
- (ii) one or more pusher systems for pushing product forward.
A dispensing module comprising:
- (a) a door assembly having an open position and a closed position comprising:
- (i) a tray;
- (ii) a front panel having a top surface, the front panel being movable between a closed position and an open position;
- (iii) a top panel;
- and
- (iv) a coupling mechanism that couples movement between the front panel, the top panel, and the tray,
- wherein as the front panel moves from the closed position to the open position, the tray rotates toward a front of the dispensing module and the top panel rotates so that the top panel is positioned relative to the top surface of the front panel in a manner that blocks access to any product stored inside the dispensing module;
- and
- (b) one or more pusher systems for pushing product forward, at least one of the one or more pusher systems comprising:
- (i) a track comprising a front lip;
- (ii) a pushing ram in sliding engagement with the track and that holds product against the front lip;
- and
- (iii) a spring that urges the pushing ram toward the front of the track.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.