Product merchandiser

Abstract

A shelf security system in the form of a merchandising shelf having a support member for supporting at least one associated object for display and/or dispensing. The support member defines longitudinal pathway along which the associated at least one object can travel from a rear position to a front position. A moveable retainer is operatively connected to the support member. The retainer is moveable between a first position at least partially obstructing the pathway thereby restricting forward movement of the at least one associated object beyond the front position, to a second position allowing further forward movement of the at least one associated object for removal of same from the support member. The retainer extends substantially across a width of the pathway.

1 . A merchandising shelf comprising:
 a support member for supporting at least one associated object for display and/or dispensing, said support member defining a longitudinal pathway along which the associated at least one object can travel from a rear position to a front position; and   a moveable retainer operatively connected to said support member, said moveable retainer being moveable between a first position at least partially obstructing the pathway thereby retarding forward movement of the at least one associated object beyond the front position of the at least one associated object, to a second position allowing further forward movement of the at least one associated object for removal of same from the support member, wherein the retainer extends substantially across a width of the pathway.   
     
     
         2 . A merchandising shelf as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the support member includes a pair of laterally spaced apart side walls and a base wall defining a longitudinally extending channel having a rear end and a front end, and in which the at least one associated object can be supported. 
     
     
         3 . A merchandising shelf as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein the moveable retainer is attached to at least one of the side walls or the base wall adjacent the front end of the channel. 
     
     
         4 . A merchandising shelf as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the moveable retainer includes a panel pivotally attached to the support member, the panel being configured to pivot from an upright position corresponding to the first position at least partially obstructing the path, to a position reclined relative to the upright position corresponding to the second position allowing further forward movement of the at least one object. 
     
     
         5 . A merchandising shelf as set forth in  claim 4 , wherein the panel is attached by a hinge to the support member. 
     
     
         6 . A merchandising shelf as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein the hinge comprises at least one coil spring adapted to secure the panel to the support structure, and to urge it to the upright position, and permit deflection of the panel to the reclined position. 
     
     
         7 . A merchandising shelf as set forth in  claim 4 , wherein the panel is one of generally planar, concave or convex. 
     
     
         8 . A merchandising shelf as set forth in  claim 4 , wherein the panel includes a base wall, wherein the base wall serves as a stop member to retard further associated objects held on the support member from moving towards the front position when the panel is moved from the first position. 
     
     
         9 . A merchandising shelf as set forth in  claim 4 , wherein the panel is biased towards the first position, which retards the associated object from advancing in relation to the support member. 
     
     
         10 . A merchandising shelf as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein a resilient member biases the panel towards said first position. 
     
     
         11 . A merchandising shelf as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the moveable retainer includes a resilient member adapted to be resiliently deflected between the first and second positions. 
     
     
         12 . A merchandising shelf as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein the resilient member includes a spring extending transversely across the longitudinal pathway of the support member, the spring being fixed at opposite ends thereof to the support member to permit resilient deflection of the spring in a direction which allows the associated object to be advanced in relation to the support member. 
     
     
         13 . A merchandising shelf as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein the resilient member includes an elastomer body extending transversely across the longitudinal pathway of the support member, the elastomer body fixed at opposite ends thereof to the support member to permit resilient deflection of the body in a direction which allows the associated object to be advanced in relation to the support member. 
     
     
         14 . A merchandising shelf as set forth in  claim 13 , wherein the elastomer body has a concave shape for at least partially surrounding an associated at least one object when in the front position of the support member. 
     
     
         15 . A merchandising shelf module comprising a plurality of merchandising shelves as set forth in  claim 1 , the support members of the merchandising shelves being arranged in a side-by-side fashion. 
     
     
         16 . A merchandising system comprising:
 a plurality of merchandise shelves for displaying and/or dispensing one or more associated objects, said shelves arranged in an array and each shelf including:   a support member for supporting at least one associated object for display and/or dispensing, said support member defining a longitudinal path along which the associated at least one object can travel from a rear position to a front position; and   a moveable retainer operatively connected to the support member, said moveable retainer being moveable between a first position at least partially obstructing the path thereby restricting forward movement of the at least one associated object beyond the front position, to a second position allowing further forward movement of the at least one associated object for removal of same from the support member;   wherein the pathway of at least one of the shelves is bounded at least partially by an adjacent shelf, said adjacent shelf restricting access to the at least one associated object except when the corresponding moveable retainer is moved to the second position, wherein the retainer extends substantially across a width of the pathway.   
     
     
         17 . A merchandising shelf as set forth in  claim 16 , wherein the support member includes a pair of laterally spaced apart side walls and a base wall defining a longitudinally extending channel having a rear end and a front end, and in which the at least one associated object can be supported. 
     
     
         18 . A merchandising shelf as set forth in  claim 17 , wherein the moveable retainer is attached to at least one of the side walls or the base wall adjacent the front end of the channel. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18  wherein the movable retainer includes at least one of a panel pivotally attached to the support member and a resilient member which can be deflected from the first position to the second position.