Trackless pusher for large items

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9468309-B2
Application number	US-201414444627-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 28, 2014
Priority date	Aug 12, 2013
Publication date	Oct 18, 2016
Grant date	Oct 18, 2016

Abstract

A trackless pusher system for a shelf defining a top surface includes a pusher having a base that is supported by the shelf top surface. A coiled spring includes a first end that is mounted to the shelf and a second end which is supported on the pusher base. A divider is mounted to the shelf, wherein the divider includes a base wall which is spaced from the shelf top surface so as to define a slot therebetween. An adjustable protrusion is mounted to the pusher for lateral extension in relation to the base of the pusher, wherein the arm extends into the slot and rides in the slot as the pusher moves forwardly and rearwardly on the shelf such that the pusher body is stabilized by the divider.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A trackless pusher system for advancing product supported on an associated shelf, the trackless pusher system comprising:
at least one divider mountable to the associated shelf, the at least one divider delimiting one side of a pathway for associated product supported on the associated shelf; and
a trackless pusher assembly for advancing the associated product along the pathway, the trackless pusher assembly comprising a pusher body, a securement member securable to a leading portion of the associated shelf, and a spring extending between and connecting the pusher body to the securement member wherein all of the pusher body, the securement member and the spring are spaced away from the at least one divider;
an adjustable first protrusion extending laterally away from the pusher body, the first protrusion being slideably received in a slot at least partially defined by the at least one divider, the slot having a longitudinal axis extending in a common direction with the pathway;
whereby the pusher body is stabilized by the at least one divider as the pusher body advances along the pathway.

2. The trackless pusher system of claim 1 , wherein the first protrusion comprises an elongated arm.

3. The trackless pusher system of claim 2 , wherein the elongated arm is movable in relation to the pusher body, and wherein adjusting a position of the arm relative to the pusher body changes a lateral extent of the arm.

4. The trackless pusher system of claim 3 , further comprising a lock mechanism for locking the elongated arm in a selected one of a plurality of angular positions in relation to the pusher body.

5. The trackless pusher system of claim 4 , wherein the lock mechanism includes a gear shaped protrusion associated with the arm, the gear shaped protrusion being adapted to cooperate with a fixed ribbed socket defined in the pusher body, the gear shaped protrusion being telescopically insertable in the ribbed socket in a plurality of orientations corresponding to different angular positions of the arm, whereby the gear shaped protrusion is movable axially between a locked position at which it is telescopically received within the ribbed socket to an unlocked position at which it is axially spaced from the ribbed socket and is allowed to rotate.

6. The trackless pusher system of claim 5 , further comprising a spring for biasing the gear shaped protrusion into the locked position.

7. The trackless pusher system of claim 1 , further comprising a second protrusion wherein the first and second protrusions extend laterally from opposed side edges of the pusher body.

8. The trackless pusher system of claim 7 wherein the at least one divider comprises two spaced dividers between which the trackless pusher assembly is located such that the first and second protrusions cooperate with a respective one of the two spaced dividers.

9. A trackless pusher assembly for advancing product along a pathway of an associated shelf, the trackless pusher assembly comprising:
a pusher body including a pusher face extending from a base having a width;
a securement member securable to a leading portion of the associated shelf;
a spring extending between and connecting the pusher body to the securement member;
at least one arm extending laterally from a side edge of the pusher body base and adapted to be received in a slot of an associated divider, the at least one arm lying in a plane parallel to a plane of the pusher body base and being adapted to extend beyond the width of the pusher body base by a desired distance wherein the arm is movable in relation to the pusher body such that the pusher body can be positioned a variable distance from the associated divider so as to maintain a distal end of the at least one arm in the slot of the associated divider.

10. The trackless pusher assembly of claim 9 , wherein the at least one arm is rotatably secured to the pusher body, and wherein adjusting a rotational position of the at least one arm relative to the pusher body changes a lateral extent of the at least one arm.

11. The trackless pusher assembly of claim 10 , further comprising an angular lock mechanism for locking the at least one arm in a desired one of a plurality of angular positions.

12. The trackless pusher assembly of claim 11 , wherein the angular lock mechanism includes a gear shaped protrusion associated with the at least one arm and adapted to cooperate with a fixed ribbed socket defined in the pusher body, the gear shaped protrusion being telescopically insertable in the ribbed socket in a plurality of positions corresponding to different angular positions of the at least one arm, whereby the gear shaped protrusion is movable axially between a rotationally interlocked position at which it is telescopically received within the ribbed socket to a rotatable position at which it is axially spaced from the ribbed socket.

13. The trackless pusher assembly of claim 12 , further comprising a spring for biasing the gear shaped protrusion towards the first position.

14. The trackless pusher assembly of claim 9 wherein the at least one arm comprises two spaced arms extending laterally from opposed side edges of the pusher body base.

15. A trackless pusher system comprising:
a front rail;
at least one divider comprising:
a divider wall,
a divider floor oriented perpendicular to the divider wall, and
an engaging member adapted for engaging the front rail;

a trackless pusher assembly comprising:
a pusher body spaced from the at least one divider,
a securement member adapted for engaging the front rail in a spaced relationship to the engaging member of the at least one divider, and
a spring extending between the pusher body and the securement member, the spring connecting the pusher body to the securement member; and

an elongated first arm extending laterally away from the pusher body, the first arm including a distal portion which is slideably received beneath the divider floor of the at least one divider.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the first arm is adapted to be movable in relation to the pusher body.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the first arm is movable in relation to the pusher body to change a lateral extent of the first arm.

18. The system of claim 17 further comprising a lock mechanism for locking the first arm in a desired orientation with respect to the pusher body.

19. The system of claim 15 further comprising an elongated second arm, wherein the first and second arms extend outwardly from opposed side edges of the pusher body.

20. The system of claim 15 wherein the first arm is located in a plane oriented parallel to a plane of the divider floor.

Assignees

• Grubbs Matthew
• Obitts Shane
• Fasteners For Retail Inc

Inventors

• Grubbs Matthew
• Obitts Shane

Classifications

• A47F5/005

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

• A47F1/126 Primary

  the pushing device being urged by spring means · CPC title