# US 9,433,305 B2 · Product merchandiser > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,433,305 B2 - Document ID: US9433305B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/180,163 - Filed: 2014-02-13 - Published: 2014-09-18 - Granted: 2016-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 2013-03-15 - Assignees: Fasteners for Retail, Inc. - Applicants: Gregory M. Bird; Gerald Matthew Szpak; Shane Obitts; Michael Eric Liedtke; Matthew Grubbs - Inventors: Gregory M. Bird; Gerald Matthew Szpak; Shane Obitts; Michael Eric Liedtke; Matthew Grubbs - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9433305B2 ## CPC - 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 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 5/005: {Partitions therefore (horizontally adjustable A47B57/58; constructional details of drawers A47B88/90)} - A47F 7/285: {Show stands having fixation means, e.g. hanging means, slidable fixations, frictional retaining means, theft prevention} - A47F: SPECIAL FURNITURE, FITTINGS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR SHOPS, STOREHOUSES, BARS, RESTAURANTS OR THE LIKE; PAYING COUNTERS ## Abstract A retainer assembly for an associated merchandising structure includes a planar divider mounted to the associated merchandising structure with the divider including a first side, a second side, a front end and a rear end. A first retainer is pivotally mounted to a first side of the divider adjacent the front end thereof. A second retainer is pivotally mounted to the second side of the divider adjacent the front end thereof. The first and second retainers are biased into an orientation normal to the plane of the divider. Each of the first and second retainers is adapted to pivot omnidirectionally in relation to the plane of the divider. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A retainer assembly for an associated merchandising shelf comprising: a generally planar elongated divider mounted to the associated shelf; 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 are connected together by a biasing member and are biased by the biasing member into an orientation normal to a plane of the divider in a rest position when no external force is applied to the first or second retainers and each of the first and second retainers is adapted to pivot omnidirectionally in relation to the plane of the divider when an external force is applied to the first or second retainers; wherein the biasing member and the first and second retainers lie along a common axis of the first and second retainers in the rest position; wherein the biasing member comprises a coiled spring or elastic band; wherein in use associated products are held in place by either or both of the first and second retainers in order to retard the associated products from falling off the associated shelf and each of the first and second retainers are adapted to pivot omnidirectionally to facilitate removal of the associated products from the associated shelf resulting in an external force being applied to the first or second retainers. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1 wherein the first and second retainers each comprise a body and a base, the body being movable in relation to the base, wherein the body and base of the respective first and second retainers both lie along a common axis in a rest position of the first and second retainers. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The assembly of claim 2 wherein said biasing member extends along the common axis. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The assembly of claim 3 wherein a cavity is defined in the body of at least one of the first and second retainers. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The assembly of claim 4 wherein the biasing member extends into the cavity in the body of the at least one of the first and second retainers. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The assembly of claim 5 wherein said biasing member comprises a spring which comprises a first end connected to the body of the first retainer and a second end connected to the body of the second retainer. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The assembly of claim 6 wherein said spring first end comprises a first loop which cooperates with a first pin to hold the spring first end in the cavity of the body of the at least one of the first and second retainers. ### Claim 8 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. ### Claim 9 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. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The assembly of claim 9 wherein the first and second fingers are adapted to extend in a fourth position in which a tip of each of the first and second fingers extends towards the associated support surface. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The assembly of claim 9 wherein the first and second fingers are adapted to extend in a fifth position in which a tip of each of the first and second fingers extend away from the associated support surface. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The assembly of claim 9 wherein the first and second fingers each include a base. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The assembly of claim 12 wherein the first and second body portions are movably mounted on their respective base. ### Claim 14 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. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The retainer assembly of claim 14 further comprising; a first base on which the first retainer is mounted; and a second base on which the second retainer is mounted. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The retainer of claim 15 wherein at least one of the first and second bases comprises an indented rounded face and the associated one of the first and second retainers includes a rounded proximal end face adapted to move in relation to the indented rounded face of the at least one of the first and second bases. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The retainer of claim 14 wherein the divider includes a front end and a rear end and wherein the first and second retainers are mounted adjacent the front end of the divider.