Retractable Tile System for Retail Shelf

Abstract

A merchandising system for a retail shelf, the merchandising system including a frame configured to attach to the retail shelf and including a hinge extending between a first end and a second end of the frame, a plurality of tiles each pivotally coupled to the hinge and operable to independently rotate about the hinge from a first position to a second position, and an actuator system coupled to the hinge and selectively engageable with the plurality of tiles to simultaneously move the plurality of tiles from the first position to the second position.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A merchandising system for a retail shelf, the merchandising system comprising:
 a frame configured to attach to the retail shelf and including a hinge extending between a first end and a second end of the frame;   a plurality of tiles each pivotally coupled to the hinge and operable to independently rotate about the hinge from a first position to a second position; and   an actuator system coupled to the hinge and selectively engageable with the plurality of tiles to simultaneously move the plurality of tiles from the first position to the second position.   
     
     
         2 . The merchandising system of  claim 1 , wherein each tile of the plurality of tiles is configured to rotate about the hinge via the actuator system and independent of the actuator system. 
     
     
         3 . The merchandising system of  claim 1 , wherein the actuator system includes a bracket coupled to the frame and an actuator rotatably coupled to the bracket along the hinge. 
     
     
         4 . The merchandising system of  claim 3 , wherein the bracket includes a first opening and the actuator includes a second opening that is coaxial with the first opening when the actuator is arranged in a first position. 
     
     
         5 . The merchandising system of  claim 4 , wherein a restraint mechanism is coupled to the bracket and extendable through the first opening and the second opening to prevent the actuator from rotating about the hinge and out of the first position. 
     
     
         6 . The merchandising system of  claim 5 , wherein the actuator is rotatable between the first position and a second position when the restraint mechanism is disengaged from the second opening. 
     
     
         7 . The merchandising system of  claim 6 , wherein the restraint mechanism includes a magnetic actuator coupled to a plunger configured to extend and retract with respect to the bracket and the actuator. 
     
     
         8 . The merchandising system of  claim 7 , wherein the restraint mechanism further includes a magnetic key selectively engageable with the magnetic actuator. 
     
     
         9 . The merchandising system of  claim 8 , wherein when the magnetic key is decoupled from the magnetic actuator the magnetic actuator deploys the plunger to a deployed position and the plunger engages with the actuator to either (i) prevent the actuator from rotating about the hinge and out of the first position or (ii) prevent the actuator from rotating about the hinge and out of the second position. 
     
     
         10 . The merchandising system of  claim 9 , when the magnetic key is coupled to the magnetic actuator the magnetic actuator retracts the plunger to a retracted position and allows the actuator to rotate about the hinge. 
     
     
         11 . A merchandising system, comprising:
 a frame including a hinge extending between a first end and a second end of the frame;   one or more tiles coupled to the hinge and configured to pivot independently from one another about the hinge;   a first actuator system coupled to the first end of the frame; and   an actuator rail connected to the first actuator system and selectively engageable with the one or more tiles.   
     
     
         12 . The merchandising system of  claim 11 , wherein the one or more tiles are configured to rotate about the hinge via the first actuator system and the actuator rail. 
     
     
         13 . The merchandising system of  claim 12 , wherein the first actuator system includes a first bracket and a first actuator. 
     
     
         14 . The merchandising system of  claim 13 , wherein the first actuator is movably coupled to the first bracket along the hinge. 
     
     
         15 . The merchandising system of  claim 14 , wherein the actuator rail is coupled to the first actuator. 
     
     
         16 . The merchandising system of  claim 15 , wherein the first actuator system includes a restraint mechanism coupled to the first bracket and selectively engageable with the actuator. 
     
     
         17 . The merchandising system of  claim 16 , wherein the restraint mechanism includes a magnetic actuator coupled to a plunger. 
     
     
         18 . The merchandising system of  claim 17 , wherein the restraint mechanism further includes a magnetic key selectively engageable with the magnetic actuator. 
     
     
         19 . The merchandising system of  claim 18 , wherein the magnetic actuator deploys the plunger to a deployed position when the magnetic key is decoupled from the magnetic actuator. 
     
     
         20 . The merchandising system of  claim 19 , wherein the magnetic actuator retracts the plunger to a retracted position when the magnetic key is coupled to the magnetic actuator.