Product merchandiser

A retainer assembly for a merchandising shelf having a support surface wherein associated products stored on the support

• surface are urged forward toward a front end of the shelf for easy access and removal of the products, the retainer assembly comprising:
• a generally planar elongated first divider mounted to the shelf;
• a generally planar elongated second divider mounted to the shelf, wherein the first and second dividers are spaced from each other and define between them a longitudinal pathway or channel along which an associated product is adapted to travel from a rear position to a front position on the shelf;
• a first finger mounted to the first divider;
• a second finger mounted to the second divider so that the first and second fingers face each other;
• wherein the first and second fingers are independent of each other and are each movable to a plurality of positions so that in a first position, the first and second fingers extend perpendicular from the respective first and second dividers into the pathway and at least partially obstruct the pathway thereby retarding further forward movement of the associated products,
• in a second position, the first and second fingers move omnidirectionally at an acute angle in relation to the pathway to allow further forward movement of the associated products for removal of same from the shelf, and
• in a third position, the first and second fingers move omnidirectionally at an acute angle in relation to the pathway to allow a restocking of the associated products on the shelf;
• a first and second biasing member each comprising a coiled spring or an elastic band;
• wherein the first finger comprises a first body portion and a first biasing member
• and the second finger comprises a second body portion and a second biasing member, said first and second biasing member respectively urging said first and second body portions into the first position, wherein the first and second biasing member is coaxial with the first and second body portions when in the first position.

A retainer assembly for a merchandising structure having a support surface the retainer assembly comprising:

• a first divider mounted to an associated support structure;
• a second divider mounted to the associated support structure, wherein the first and second dividers are spaced from each other and define between them a longitudinal pathway or channel along which an associated item of merchandise can travel from a rear position to a front position on the associated support structure;
• a first finger mounted to the first divider;
• a second finger mounted to the second divider so that the first and second fingers face each other;
• wherein the first and second fingers are independent of each other and are each movable to a plurality of positions so that
• in a first position, they are adapted to extend normal to the pathway and at least partially obstruct the pathway thereby retarding further forward movement of the associated item of merchandise,
• in a second position, they are adapted to move omnidirectionally at an acute angle in relation to the pathway to allow further forward movement of the associated item of merchandise for removal of same from the associated shelf, and
• in a third position, they are adapted to move omnidirectionally at an acute angle in relation to the pathway to allow a restocking of the associated item of merchandise on the associated support structure;
• and,
• wherein the first finger comprises a first body portion and a first biasing member and the second finger comprises a second body portion and a second biasing member, said first and second biasing members respectively urging said first and second body portions into the first position, wherein the first and second biasing members are coaxial with the first and second body portions when in the first position;
• and
• wherein at least one of the first and second biasing members comprises a tension spring.

A retainer assembly for an associated merchandising structure, comprising;

• a generally planar elongated divider mounted to the associated merchandising structure;
• a first retainer mounted to a first side of the divider;
• a second retainer mounted to a second side of the divider;
• wherein the first and second retainers extend along a common axis when in a rest position;
• and
• a biasing member which extends along the common axis and includes a first end connected to the first retainer, and spaced therefrom, a second end connected to the second retainer such that the biasing member connects the first and second retainers to each other;
• wherein the biasing member comprises a coiled spring or elastic band;
• and
• wherein the divider includes an aperture along the common axis through which the biasing member extends;
• wherein in use associated products are held in place by either or both of the first and second retainers in order to prevent the associated products from falling off the associated merchandising structure and the first retainer and second retainer pivot upwardly, downwardly and diagonally with respect to the common axis to facilitate removal of the associated products from the associated merchandising structure.