Patents Assigned to RTC Industries, Incorporated
  • Patent number: 9265362
    Abstract: A merchandise display system having a pusher structure slidably-coupled to a track. The pusher structure comprises a lock arm configured to selectively engage with a ratchet rack to allow for selective unidirectional motion of the pusher structure upon application of a manual force to a pusher face of the pusher structure. Further, selective disengagement of the ratchet rack from the lock arm is facilitated by a manually-actuated pull strip having a ramp structure that slidably engages with the lock arm to lift a pawl out of the ratchet rack. This selective disengagement allows for bidirectional sliding of the pusher structure along said track, thereby allowing displayed products to be moved towards a front of a display shelf, or for products to be reloaded into the merchandise display system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: RTC Industries, Incorporated
    Inventor: Stephen N. Hardy
  • Patent number: 9265358
    Abstract: A merchandise display system can include a pusher extender that increases the pushing surface of the pusher. The pusher extender may define an elongated pusher body having a cavity. The pusher extender may be configured to slide over the pusher wall via the cavity like a sleeve. The pusher extender with an enlarged, substantially planar surface thereby creates an enlarged pushing surface for pushing larger products toward the front of the display system. The pusher extender can also be provided with an angled pusher surface to accommodate larger products. The display system can be mounted to a rear hang bar located towards the back of the shelf. A hanger may be positioned within a cavity formed in the divider and extend the length of the divider. The hook end of the hanger may then be positioned on the hang bar and the entire system may cantilever out from the hang bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: RTC Industries, Incorporated
    Inventor: Stephen N. Hardy
  • Patent number: 9259102
    Abstract: A product management display system for merchandising product on a shelf includes at least one tray having a front rounded portion and defining a plurality of apertures and having two sides. A lip may extend upward from the front rounded portion of the at least one tray. A front shelf may extend forward from the lip. The at least one tray may include one divider extending upwardly from each of the two sides and a front wall. The front wall may include a top wall, a bottom wall, and two side legs. The front wall, bottom wall, and two side legs may form a wall aperture and the front wall may include a plurality of projections configured to engage with the plurality of apertures on the tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: RTC Industries, Incorporated
    Inventors: Stephen N. Hardy, Tony DiPaolo, Barry Hearn
  • Patent number: 9237816
    Abstract: A product management display system for merchandising product on a shelf includes using a trackless pusher mechanism that travels along a surface on which product is placed and one or more dividers for separating product into rows. The one or more dividers may be engaged to a front rail in two different conditions, locked and unlocked. In a locked condition, the relationship between the divider and the front rail resists alteration in any direction with respect to each other. In the unlocked condition, the dividers may be freely slid laterally along the front rail, while remaining perpendicular to the front rail. The one or more dividers may lock to the front rail through the use of corresponding teeth, resilient surfaces, a locking tab, a locking bar and/or a cam that may define a cam glide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: RTC Industries, Incorporated
    Inventor: Stephen N. Hardy
  • Patent number: 9232864
    Abstract: A product management display system for merchandising product on a shelf or tray includes using a trackless pusher mechanism that travels along a surface on which product is placed. In one example, the tray or shelf can include a first product retaining member which prevents products from being pushed off of the tray. The pusher mechanism of an exemplary embodiment includes a pusher surface, a second product retaining member, and a pusher floor that extends forward of the pusher surface and between the pusher surface and the second product retaining member. A flat coiled spring or other biasing element may be operatively connected behind the pusher mechanism. In use, the product to be merchandised may be placed on the pusher floor. With this configuration, the pusher surface is prevented from pushing the last product off of the shelf and onto the floor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: RTC Industries, Incorporated
    Inventors: Stephen N. Hardy, John Pirone
  • Patent number: 9222645
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to a lighting assembly and method for illuminating a vertical planar area, such as a merchandise display. The lighting assembly can comprise two opposing support arms and a lighting bar extending between the two opposing support arms, a circuit board having a plurality of LEDs mounted to the inside of the lighting bar; and a plurality of reflective surfaces located adjacent to the plurality of LEDs, wherein the plurality of reflective surfaces are positioned such that the LEDs project a first light beam in a first direction and a second light beam in a second direction different than the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: RTC Industries, Incorporated
    Inventors: David S. Breslow, John Wesley Swafford, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9225131
    Abstract: A low voltage power assembly may comprise a track that includes one or more conductive plates and one or more metal plates, wherein the track is powered from a low voltage power source; and a power connector assembly that connects to the track, wherein the one or more conductive plates connect to the power assembly providing a low voltage power connection, and further wherein the one or more metal plates connect to the power assembly providing a magnetic connection. The power connector assembly may be configured to provide low voltage power through the track to a low voltage power device. The low voltage power assembly may include a configuration of ferrous material, conductive material, and nonconductive materials arranged in such a way as to provide a method for power and/or signal distribution to a mating device, such as to a set of magnetic LED modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: RTC Industries, Incorporated
    Inventors: Joseph C. Ernest, Thomas E. Hubley, John W. Swafford, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9146029
    Abstract: A power assembly may comprise a track that includes one or more conductive plates and one or more mechanical connection plates, wherein the track is powered from a power source; and a power connector assembly that connects to the track, wherein the one or more conductive plates connect to the power assembly providing a power connection, and further wherein the one or more mechanical connection plates connect to the power assembly providing a mechanical connection. The power connector assembly may be configured to provide low voltage power through the track to a low voltage power device. The power assembly may include a configuration of mechanical connections and conductive material arranged in such a way as to provide power and/or signal distribution to a mating device, such as to a set of LED modules, other lighting sources, or powered track devices for use with a merchandise display system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: RTC Industries, Incorporated
    Inventors: Robert Nicieja, David S. Breslow, John W. Swafford, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9070261
    Abstract: A merchandising system that improves the merchandising of product by limiting the number and the frequency with which product can be removed from, for example, a merchandising shelf. The merchandising system may include a base configured to support product and a housing configured to engage the base. The housing may comprise a top wall, a first side wall, a second side wall, and a front retaining wall. The system may further include a spring-urged pusher movably mounted on the base and a dampener assembly mounted to the spring-urged pusher configured to control the rate of speed at which the spring-urged pusher is urged forward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: RTC Industries, Incorporated
    Inventor: Stephen N. Hardy