Patents by Inventor Brent O. Ewing

Brent O. Ewing has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20240023727
    Abstract: A retail merchandise tray and display incorporating the same are provided. The display includes a shelf and the tray mounted to the shelf. The tray includes a pair of opposed mounting rails with at least one tray section situated between the first and second mounting rails. A support leg is mounted to the first mounting rail and elevates a back end of the retail merchandise tray relative to a front end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2023
    Publication date: January 25, 2024
    Applicant: Fasteners for Retail, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas O. Nagel, Brent O. Ewing
  • Publication number: 20230337840
    Abstract: A retail merchandise pusher with a remote alarm feature is provided. The pusher includes a housing and an adaptor. The adaptor is removably coupled to the housing and slidably coupled to a track. The pusher including a shaft rotatable about its axis in a first and second direction and a gear wheel coupled to the shaft. The rotation of the gear wheel causing a first electrical contact to engage with a second electrical contact, such that the distance that the pusher moves along the track can be measured by totaling the number of times the first electrical contact engages with the second electrical contact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2023
    Publication date: October 26, 2023
    Applicant: Fasteners for Retail, Inc.
    Inventors: Brent O. Ewing, Chan Chor Man, Thomas O. Nagel
  • Patent number: 11793328
    Abstract: A retail merchandise tray and display incorporating the same are provided. The display includes a shelf and the tray mounted to the shelf. The tray includes a pair of opposed mounting rails with at least one tray section situated between the first and second mounting rails. A support leg is mounted to the first mounting rail and elevates a back end of the retail merchandise tray relative to a front end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Fasteners for Retail, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas O. Nagel, Brent O. Ewing
  • Publication number: 20230301444
    Abstract: A retail merchandise pusher is configured for sliding along a pusher assembly track. The pusher assembly is mountable to a retail merchandise shelf. The pusher includes a housing, a spring drum rotatably mounted within the housing, and a coil spring mounted to the spring drum. The coil spring is coilable and uncoilable upon rotation of the spring drum. A controller is coupled to a sensor arrangement within the housing. The sensor arrangement has a spring drum sensor for detecting rotation of the spring drum. A direction sensor detects a direction of rotation of the spring drum. An incremental distance sensor detects incremental movement of the pusher. The controller is configured to calculate, based on data from the sensor arrangement, a total distance and direction of travel by the pusher, and to generate an alarm when the pusher travels more than a threshold distance within a predetermined period of time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2023
    Publication date: September 28, 2023
    Applicant: Fasteners for Retail, Inc.
    Inventors: Brent O. Ewing, Chan Chor Man
  • Patent number: 11737579
    Abstract: A retail merchandise pusher with a remote alarm feature is provided. The pusher includes a housing and an adaptor. The adaptor is removably coupled to the housing and slidably coupled to a track. The pusher including a shaft rotatable about its axis in a first and second direction and a gear wheel coupled to the shaft. The rotation of the gear wheel causing a first electrical contact to engage with a second electrical contact, such that the distance that the pusher moves along the track can be measured by totaling the number of times the first electrical contact engages with the second electrical contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Fasteners for Retail, Inc.
    Inventors: Brent O. Ewing, Chan Chor Man, Thomas O. Nagel
  • Patent number: 11737580
    Abstract: An anti-sweeping hook that includes a display hook for storing retail merchandise. The display hook is substantially straight and having a first end and a second end opposite the first end. A helical coil is disposed about the display hook and extending along a lengthwise portion of the display hook. The helical coil has a first coil end proximate the first end of the display hook. Rotation of the helical coil in a first direction loads the retail merchandise onto the display hook. Rotation of the helical coil in a second direction opposite the first direction removes the retail merchandise from the display hook. A rotating handle is attached to the first end of the display hook and to the first coil end. The rotating handle is configured to determine an extent of rotation for the rotating handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Fasteners for Retail, Inc.
    Inventors: Brent O. Ewing, Shane Obitts, Chan Chor Man
  • Publication number: 20230250675
    Abstract: An anti-theft merchandise hook that includes a top wire connected to a housing portion at a first end of the top wire, and to a mounting portion, used to mount the anti-theft merchandise hook to a stationary surface, at a second end of the top wire opposite the first end. A bottom wire is attached to the mounting portion and extends from the mounting portion toward the housing portion. The bottom wire is configured to hold retail merchandise. A moveable hanger is at least partially disposed within the housing portion. The hanger is configured to move linearly between a closed position in which the hanger abuts the bottom wire, and an open position in which the hanger is spaced some distance from the bottom wire.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2023
    Publication date: August 10, 2023
    Applicant: Fasteners for Retail, Inc.
    Inventors: Keith C. Eden, Shane Obitts, Brent O. Ewing, Chan Chor Man
  • Publication number: 20230248160
    Abstract: An anti-sweeping hook that includes a display hook for storing retail merchandise. The display hook has a first end and a second end opposite the first end. A helical coil is disposed about the display hook and extending along a lengthwise portion of the display hook. The helical coil has a first coil end proximate the first end of the display hook. Rotation of the helical coil in a first direction loads the retail merchandise onto the display hook. Rotation of the helical coil in a second direction opposite the first direction removes the retail merchandise from the display hook. A rotating handle is attached to the first end of the display hook and to the first coil end. The rotating handle is configured to determine an extent of rotation for the rotating handle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2023
    Publication date: August 10, 2023
    Applicant: Fasteners for Retail, Inc.
    Inventors: Brent O. Ewing, Shane Obitts, Chan Chor Man
  • Publication number: 20230252411
    Abstract: Anti-sweeping hook with a display hook, a helical coil, and rotating handle. The display hook may be straight with a first end and second end opposite the first end. The helical coil is disposed about the display hook and extends lengthwise along the display hook. The helical coil has a first coil end proximate the first end of the display hook. Rotation of the helical coil in a first direction loads the retail merchandise onto the display hook. Rotation of the coil in a second direction opposite the first direction removes the retail merchandise. The rotating handle is configured to determine a number of retail items stored on the display hook, based on the number and direction of rotation of the rotating handle. The rotating handle includes an MCU and wireless communications module to process and wirelessly transmit inventory data indicating the number of retail items on the display hook.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2023
    Publication date: August 10, 2023
    Applicant: Fasteners for Retail, Inc.
    Inventors: Brent O. Ewing, Chan Chor Man, Yun Hua, Jeffrey A. Comstock
  • Publication number: 20230245540
    Abstract: A signal-emitting retail display device that includes a wire having a top portion and a bottom portion, the top portion configured to support a label holder, the bottom portion configured to store one or more retail items. The signal-emitting retail display device also has an electronic unit that includes an emitter. The emitter is configured to emit a warning signal, and configured to transmit a wireless signal to an alarm box, where the wireless signal is indicative of the warning signal. The wire is electrically coupled to the electronic unit such that the wire functions as an antenna for the transmission of the wireless signal to the alarm box.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2023
    Publication date: August 3, 2023
    Applicant: Fasteners for Retail, Inc.
    Inventors: Brent O. Ewing, Chan Chor Man
  • Patent number: 11707141
    Abstract: A retail merchandise pusher is configured for sliding along a pusher assembly track. The pusher assembly is mountable to a retail merchandise shelf. The pusher includes a housing, a spring drum rotatably mounted within the housing, and a coil spring mounted to the spring drum. The coil spring is coilable and uncoilable upon rotation of the spring drum. A controller is coupled to a sensor arrangement within the housing. The sensor arrangement has a spring drum sensor for detecting rotation of the spring drum. A direction sensor detects a direction of rotation of the spring drum. An incremental distance sensor detects incremental movement of the pusher. The controller is configured to calculate, based on data from the sensor arrangement, a total distance and direction of travel by the pusher, and to generate an alarm when the pusher travels more than a threshold distance within a predetermined period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: Fasteners for Retail, Inc.
    Inventors: Brent O. Ewing, Chan Chor Man
  • Publication number: 20230212889
    Abstract: An anti-theft merchandise hook that includes a top wire connected to a housing at a first end of the top wire, and to a mounting portion, used to mount the anti-theft merchandise hook to a stationary surface, at a second end of the top wire opposite the first end. A bottom wire is attached to the mounting portion and extends from the mounting portion towards the housing. The bottom wire is configured to hold retail merchandise. A hanger is at least partially disposed within the housing. The hanger is configured to move between a closed position in which the hanger abuts the bottom wire, and an open position in which the hanger is spaced some distance from the bottom wire. A motor is configured to move the hanger between the closed position and the open position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2023
    Publication date: July 6, 2023
    Applicant: Fasteners for Retail, Inc.
    Inventors: Keith C. Eden, Shane Obitts, Brent O. Ewing, Chan Chor Man
  • Publication number: 20230210277
    Abstract: A retail merchandise pusher is configured for sliding along a pusher assembly track. The pusher assembly is mountable to a retail merchandise shelf. The pusher includes a housing, a spring drum rotatably mounted within the housing, and a coil spring mounted to the spring drum. The coil spring is coilable and uncoilable upon rotation of the spring drum. A controller is coupled to a sensor arrangement within the housing. The sensor arrangement has a spring drum sensor for detecting rotation of the spring drum. A direction sensor detects a direction of rotation of the spring drum. An incremental distance sensor detects incremental movement of the pusher. The controller is configured to calculate, based on data from the sensor arrangement, a total distance and direction of travel by the pusher, and to generate an alarm when the pusher travels more than a threshold distance within a predetermined period of time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2023
    Publication date: July 6, 2023
    Applicant: Fasteners for Retail, Inc.
    Inventors: Brent O. Ewing, Chan Chor Man, Jeffrey A. Comstock
  • Patent number: 11680427
    Abstract: An anti-theft merchandise hook that includes a top wire connected to a housing portion at one end of the top wire, and to a mounting portion, used to mount the anti-theft merchandise hook to a stationary surface, at another end of the top wire opposite the one end. A bottom wire is attached to the mounting portion and extends from the mounting portion toward the housing portion. The bottom wire is configured to hold retail merchandise. A moveable hanger is at least partially disposed within the housing portion. The hanger is configured to move linearly between a closed position in which the hanger abuts the bottom wire, and an open position in which the hanger is spaced some distance from the bottom wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Fasteners for Retail, Inc.
    Inventors: Keith C. Eden, Shane Obitts, Brent O. Ewing, Chan Chor Man
  • Publication number: 20230186740
    Abstract: An anti-theft device with a remote alarm feature is provided. The device is configured to attach to an item of retail merchandise and detect when a predetermined motion and light condition are met which together are indicative of a potential retail theft. Upon detection, the device is configured to generate a local alarm, and send a radio frequency to a remote device to generate an alarm at the remote device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2023
    Publication date: June 15, 2023
    Applicant: Fasteners for Retail, Inc.
    Inventors: Brent O. Ewing, Chan Chor Man, Thomas O. Nagel
  • Patent number: 11663893
    Abstract: A signal-emitting retail display device that includes a wire having a top portion and a bottom portion, the top portion configured to support a label holder, the bottom portion configured to store one or more retail items. The signal-emitting retail display device also has an electronic unit that includes an emitter. The emitter is configured to emit a warning signal, and configured to transmit a wireless signal to an alarm box in response to the warning signal. The wire is electrically coupled to the electronic unit such that the wire functions as an antenna for the transmission of the wireless signal to the alarm box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Fasteners for Retail, Inc.
    Inventors: Brent O. Ewing, Chan Chor Man
  • Patent number: 11643850
    Abstract: An anti-theft merchandise hook that includes a top wire connected to a housing at a first end of the top wire, and to a mounting portion, used to mount the anti-theft merchandise hook to a stationary surface, at a second end of the top wire opposite the first end. A bottom wire is attached to the mounting portion and extends from the mounting portion towards the housing. The bottom wire is configured to hold retail merchandise. A hanger is at least partially disposed within the housing. The hanger is configured to move linearly between a closed position in which the hanger abuts the bottom wire, and an open position in which the hanger is spaced some distance from the bottom wire. A motor is configured to drive a rotary shaft in order to move the hanger between the closed position and the open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Fasteners for Retail, Inc.
    Inventors: Keith C. Eden, Shane Obitts, Brent O. Ewing, Chan Chor Man
  • Patent number: 11605276
    Abstract: A anti-theft device with a remote alarm feature is provided. The device is configured to attach to an item of retail merchandise and detect when a predetermined motion and light condition are met which together are indicative of a potential retail theft. Upon detection, the device is configured to generate a local alarm, and send a radio frequency to a remote device to generate an alarm at the remote device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: Fasteners for Retail, Inc.
    Inventors: Brent O Ewing, Chan Chor Man, Thomas O. Nagel
  • Publication number: 20230059326
    Abstract: An anti-sweeping hook includes a display hook, a helical coil, and a rotating handle. The display hook may be substantially straight and has a first end and a second end opposite the first end. The helical coil is disposed about the display hook and extends along a lengthwise portion of the display hook. The helical coil has a first coil end proximate the first end of the display hook. Rotation of the helical coil in a first direction loads the retail merchandise onto the display hook. Rotation of the helical coil in a second direction opposite the first direction removes the retail merchandise from the display hook. The rotating handle is configured to determine a change in an amount of stored inventory based on the amount and direction of rotation of the rotating handle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2022
    Publication date: February 23, 2023
    Applicant: Fasteners for Retail, Inc.
    Inventors: Brent O. Ewing, Chan Chor Man, Yun Hua, Jeffrey A. Comstock
  • Publication number: 20220408940
    Abstract: A retail merchandise tray and display incorporating the same are provided. The display includes a shelf and the tray mounted to the shelf. The tray includes a pair of opposed mounting rails with at least one tray section situated between the first and second mounting rails. A support leg is mounted to the first mounting rail and elevates a back end of the retail merchandise tray relative to a front end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2022
    Publication date: December 29, 2022
    Applicant: Fasteners for Retail, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas O. Nagel, Brent O. Ewing