Retainer for merchandise dispensing system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12501998-B2
Application number	US-202418680227-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 31, 2024
Priority date	Jun 1, 2023
Publication date	Dec 23, 2025
Grant date	Dec 23, 2025

Abstract

A merchandise system for a retail shelf includes a front rail defining a channel, a retainer disposed parallel to and spaced apart from the front rail, and a first divider. The first divider has a first end and second end disposed on an opposite side of the first divider than the first end. The first end is configured to selectively engage the channel of the front rail and the second end is configured to selectively engage the retainer.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A merchandise system for a retail shelf, the merchandise system comprising:
a front rail defining a channel; a retainer disposed parallel to and spaced apart from the front rail, the retainer including:
a main body,
a pair of wings extending from the main body, the wings each having (i) a first portion including a proximal end attached to the main body and a free distal end spaced from the proximal end and (ii) a second portion coupled to the free distal end and extending perpendicular to the first portion, and
a pair of ribs spaced inwardly from the wings and cooperating with the first portions to define slots configured to engage one or more dividers; and
a first divider having a first end and a second end disposed on an opposite side of the first divider than the first end, the first end configured to selectively engage the channel of the front rail and the second end configured to selectively engage the retainer.

2 . The merchandise system of claim 1 , wherein the first divider includes a base and a sidewall extending from the base, the sidewall received within one of the slots of the retainer.

3 . The merchandise system of claim 1 , wherein the first divider extends between and connects the front rail and the retainer.

4 . The merchandise system of claim 1 , wherein the merchandise system further comprises a second divider parallel to and spaced away from the first divider and having a first end and a second end disposed on an opposite side of the second divider than the first end, the first end of the second divider configured to selectively engage the channel of the front rail and the second end of the second divider configured to selectively engage the retainer.

5 . The merchandise system of claim 4 , wherein the retainer and the front rail cooperate to maintain a relative alignment between the first divider and the second divider.

6 . The merchandise system of claim 4 , wherein the main body extends between a first side and a second side, the main body separating the first divider from the second divider.

7 . The merchandise system of claim 6 , wherein the pair of wings includes a first wing disposed on the first side of the main body and a second wing disposed on the second side of the main body and the pair of ribs includes a first rib disposed on the first side of the main body and a second rib disposed on the second side of the main body.

8 . The merchandise system of claim 7 , wherein the first wing and the first rib cooperate to form a first slot sized to receive a portion of the first divider, and the second wing and the second rib cooperate to form a second slot sized to receive a portion of the second divider.

9 . The merchandise system of claim 7 , wherein the first rib is spaced away from the first wing by a first slot, and the second rib is spaced away from the second wing by a second slot.

10 . A merchandise system for a retail shelf, the system comprising:
a front rail; a retainer extending parallel to and spaced apart from the front rail, the retainer including:
a main body,
a pair of wings extending from the main body, the wings each having (i) a first portion extending from a proximal end attached to the main body to a distal end spaced from the proximal end and (ii) a second portion extending from the free distal end perpendicular to the first portion, and
a pair of ribs spaced inwardly from the wings and cooperating with the first portions to define slots configured to engage one or more dividers; and
a first divider having a first end and a second end disposed on an opposite side of the first divider than the first end, the first end configured to selectively engage the front rail and the second end configured to selectively engage the retainer.

11 . The merchandise system of claim 10 , wherein the first divider includes a base and a sidewall extending from the base, the sidewall received within one of the slots of the retainer.

12 . The merchandise system of claim 10 , wherein the first divider extends between and connects the front rail and the retainer.

13 . The merchandise system of claim 12 , wherein the main body extends between a first side and a second side, and the pair of ribs are arranged between the first side and the second side of the main body.

14 . The merchandise system of claim 10 , wherein the merchandise system further comprises a second divider parallel to and spaced away from the first divider and having a first end and a second end disposed on an opposite side of the second divider than the first end, the first end of the second divider configured to selectively engage the front rail and the second end of the second divider configured to selectively engage the retainer.

15 . The merchandise system of claim 14 , wherein the retainer and the front rail cooperate to maintain a relative alignment between the first divider and the second divider.

Assignees

• Fasteners For Retail Inc

Inventors

• Walker William H

Classifications

• A47B96/04

  Partition walls {(adjustable A47B57/58)} · CPC title

• A47F5/005 Primary

  Partitions therefore (horizontally adjustable A47B57/58; constructional details of drawers A47B88/90) · CPC title

• A47B57/585 Primary

  with connection means slidable in a rail · CPC title