Product Biasing System With Low Inventory Indicator

Abstract

A product biasing system including an elongated rail having a front end and a rear end, a moveable member slidably engaged with the rail, and a biasing element operatively connected to the moveable member to bias the moveable member toward the front end of the rail, the biasing element being marked with indicia indicative of the longitudinal displacement of the moveable member relative to the front end of the rail.

1 . A product biasing system comprising:
 an elongated rail having a front end and a rear end;   a moveable member slidably engaged with said rail; and   a biasing element operatively connected to said moveable member to bias said moveable member toward said front end of said rail, said biasing element being marked with indicia indicative of a longitudinal displacement of said moveable member relative to said front end of said rail.   
     
     
         2 . The product biasing system of  claim 1  wherein said rail defines an elongated track, and said moveable member is engaged with said track. 
     
     
         3 . The product biasing system of  claim 2  wherein said moveable member comprises a T-shaped member engaged with said track. 
     
     
         4 . The product biasing system of  claim 1  wherein said front end of said rail defines a window, and wherein said indicia is viewable through said window. 
     
     
         5 . The product biasing system of  claim 1  wherein said moveable member comprises a base and a face panel, said face panel being generally perpendicular to said base. 
     
     
         6 . The product biasing system of  claim 1  wherein said biasing element comprises a band shaped into a coil, said band having a free end. 
     
     
         7 . The product biasing system of  claim 6  wherein said band is formed from a resilient material. 
     
     
         8 . The product biasing system of  claim 6  wherein said coil is connected proximate said front end of said rail, and wherein said free end of said band is connected to said moveable member. 
     
     
         9 . The product biasing system of  claim 6  wherein said front end of said rail defines a window, and wherein at least a portion of said coil is viewable through said window. 
     
     
         10 . The product biasing system of  claim 6  wherein said indicia longitudinally extends along at least a portion of said band. 
     
     
         11 . The product biasing system of  claim 1  wherein said indicia comprises at least two different colors. 
     
     
         12 . The product biasing system of  claim 1  wherein said indicia comprises text or graphics. 
     
     
         13 . The product biasing system of  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of products positioned on said rail between said front end of said rail and said moveable member, said plurality of products longitudinally displacing said moveable member from said front end of said rail. 
     
     
         14 . A product biasing system comprising:
 an elongated rail having a front end and a rear end;   a moveable member slidably engaged with said rail; and   a biasing element comprising a band shaped into a coil, said band comprising a free end extendable from said coil, said band being marked with indicia,   wherein said coil is connected proximate said front end of said rail and said free end is connected to said moveable member to bias said moveable member toward said front end of said rail, and   wherein said indicia is indicative of a longitudinal displacement of said moveable member relative to said front end of said rail.   
     
     
         15 . The product biasing system of  claim 14  wherein said front end of said rail defines a window, and wherein at least a portion of said indicia on said band is viewable through said window. 
     
     
         16 . The product biasing system of  claim 14  wherein said indicia comprises at least a first color and a second color, said first color being different than said second color. 
     
     
         17 . The product biasing system of  claim 16  wherein said front end of said rail defines a window, and wherein said first color is viewable through said window when said moveable member is displaced a first distance from said front end of said rail, and wherein said second color is viewable through said window when said moveable member is displaced a second distance from said front end of said rail. 
     
     
         18 . The product biasing system of  claim 14  wherein said indicia longitudinally extends along at least a portion of said band. 
     
     
         19 . The product biasing system of  claim 14  further comprising a plurality of products positioned on said rail between said front end of said rail and said moveable member, said plurality of products longitudinally displacing said moveable member from said front end of said rail. 
     
     
         20 . A method for determining an inventory level of a display, said method comprising the steps of:
 providing a biasing system comprising:
 an elongated rail having a front end and a rear end, said front end defining a window, 
 a moveable member slidably engaged with said rail, and 
 a biasing element operatively connected to said moveable member to bias said moveable member toward said front end of said rail, 
 wherein said biasing element comprises an elongated band shaped into a coil, said band being marked with indicia, said indicia varying along said band; 
   positioning a quantity of products on said rail between said front end of said rail and said moveable member, said moveable member urging said products toward said front end of said rail, wherein a low inventor condition is established when said quantity drops below a predetermined value; and   observing said indicia through said window to determine whether said low inventor condition has been established.