Secure merchandising display with tunnel feature

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9603467-B2
Application number	US-201414538237-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 11, 2014
Priority date	May 10, 2011
Publication date	Mar 28, 2017
Grant date	Mar 28, 2017

Abstract

Disclosed is a dispenser for controlling access to product, such as but not limited to bottles, housed within the dispenser. In some embodiments, the dispenser includes an opening having a contour that generally mirrors the shape and/or dimensions of the product stored within the dispenser plus a relatively small amount of clearance and also includes a tunnel within the interior of the device. The configuration of the opening and/or the tunnel feature prevents a user from accessing product stored behind the opening within the dispenser. In some embodiments, the dispenser includes a pusher system that provides a time delay between the dispensing of products into a receiving area.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A dispenser for housing a plurality of products, the dispenser comprising:
a surface comprising an opening that restricts access to the products stored within the dispenser, the opening generally conforming to a shape of the products plus an offset;
a receiving area adjacent the surface of the dispenser;
a first sidewall and a second sidewall;
a tunnel formed within an interior of the dispenser; and
one or more inserts that generally extend along an interior of the dispenser between the first and second sidewalls to accommodate and generally conform to the shape of the plurality of products housed within the dispenser.

2. The dispenser of claim 1 , wherein a shape and dimensions of at least a portion of the receiving area generally conforms to the shape and dimensions of the products plus an offset.

3. The dispenser of claim 1 , further comprising an actuator for actuating the dispensing of one of the plurality of products.

4. The dispenser of claim 1 , further comprising a pusher system that advances the products housed within the dispenser toward the opening.

5. The dispenser of claim 4 , wherein the pusher system comprises a track, a pusher in sliding engagement with the track, a spring that urges the pusher along the track, and a resistance mechanism that slows a speed at which the pusher advances the products.

6. The dispenser of claim 4 , wherein the first and second sidewalls abut one another to define the opening.

7. The dispenser of claim 1 , wherein the one or more inserts comprises a protrusion that generally extends along the one or more inserts and accommodates a neck of one of the products housed within the dispenser.

8. The dispenser of claim 7 , wherein the protrusion of the one or more inserts conforms to the shape of the products housed within the dispenser.

9. The dispenser of claim 1 , wherein the opening provides clearance between a contour of the opening and the products.

10. The dispenser of claim 1 , wherein the offset is generally uniform along the opening.

11. The dispenser of claim 1 , wherein the opening generally mirrors a shape of the products substantially along a height of the products.

12. The dispenser of claim 5 , wherein the pusher system activates a position sensor to indicate at least one of the following: (a) removal of a product from the dispenser; (b) the number of products removed from the dispenser; and (c) the number of products remaining in the dispenser.

13. A dispenser for housing a plurality of product, the dispenser comprising:
a front comprising an opening that restricts access to the product stored behind the opening within the dispenser, the opening having a substantially similar shape and dimensions as those of the product plus a clearance;
one or more sidewalls forming the opening;
a tunnel that extends along an interior of the dispenser, wherein the tunnel comprises one or more inserts, each of the one or more inserts generally conforming to the shape of the product and comprising a protrusion that generally extends along the one or more inserts and accommodates a portion of the product housed within the dispenser; and
a pusher system comprising a track, a pusher in sliding engagement with the track, a device configured to urge the pusher along the track toward the front of the dispenser, and a resistance mechanism that slows a speed at which the pusher advances the product toward the front of the dispenser.

14. The dispenser of claim 13 , wherein the tunnel generally conforms to the shape and dimensions of the product.

15. The dispenser of claim 13 , further comprising a receiving area adjacent the front of the dispenser and located in front of the opening, wherein a shape of at least a portion of the receiving area generally conforms to the shape of the product.

16. The dispenser of claim 13 , wherein the clearance is generally uniform along the opening.

17. The dispenser of claim 13 , wherein the opening generally mirrors a shape and dimensions of the product substantially along a height of the product.

18. The dispenser of claim 13 , wherein the pusher system activates a position sensor to indicate at least one of the following: (a) removal of a product from the dispenser; (b) the number of product removed from the dispenser; and (c) the number of products remaining in the dispenser.

19. A dispenser for housing a plurality of items, the dispenser comprising:
a front comprising an opening that restricts access to the items stored within the dispenser, the opening generally mirroring a shape of the items along a height of the items plus a clearance;
a tunnel formed within an interior of the dispenser that surrounds the items stored within the dispenser, wherein the tunnel comprises one or more inserts each generally conforming to the shape of the product and comprising a protrusion that generally extends along the insert and accommodates a portion of the items stored within the dispenser;
a receiving area adjacent the front of the dispenser located outside of the tunnel; and
a pushing device that controls advancement of the items toward the receiving area.

20. The dispenser of claim 19 , wherein the clearance is generally uniform along the opening.

Assignees

• Westrock Shared Services Llc

Inventors

• Lockwood Thomas A

Classifications

• A47F1/126 Primary

  the pushing device being urged by spring means · CPC title