Patents by Inventor Jörg Niederhüfner

Jörg Niederhüfner 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).

  • Patent number: 9672711
    Abstract: A method of preventing the theft of packaged products from a building, in which the method includes the steps of incorporating an electronic device into the packaging material for the packaged product, and configuring the electronic device to activate an alarm if the packaged product is removed from the building prior to deactivation of the electronic device. In a particular embodiment, the method further includes configuring the electronic device to impair the function or appearance of the packaged product if the packaged product is removed from the building prior to deactivation of the electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: Southern Imperial, Inc.
    Inventor: Joerg Niederhuefner
  • Patent number: 9129494
    Abstract: An alarm device configured to monitor retail merchandise on a retail pusher system is provided. The alarm device includes a triggering mechanism that activates an alarm when retail merchandise is removed from the retail pusher system. The alarm makes store personnel aware that retail merchandise has been removed from a particular pusher system. In certain embodiments of the invention, the alarm device is disposed on a front stop of the retail pusher system. A biasing member of the pusher system biases retail merchandise into a switch of the alarm device. In this configuration, the alarm device may include a plunger switch that activates an alarm when retail merchandise is not biased into the plunger switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: Southern Imperial, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas E. Valiulis, Jörg Niederhüfner
  • Publication number: 20140167962
    Abstract: An alarm device configured to monitor retail merchandise on a retail pusher system is provided. The alarm device includes a triggering mechanism that activates an alarm when retail merchandise is removed from the retail pusher system. The alarm makes store personnel aware that retail merchandise has been removed from a particular pusher system. In certain embodiments of the invention, the alarm device is disposed on a front stop of the retail pusher system. A biasing member of the pusher system biases retail merchandise into a switch of the alarm device. In this configuration, the alarm device may include a plunger switch that activates an alarm when retail merchandise is not biased into the plunger switch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2012
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Inventors: Thomas E. Valiulis, Jörg Niederhüfner
  • Patent number: 8443988
    Abstract: An alarm sounding retail display system is provided. The alarm sounding retail display system is operable to provide an audible tone upon the movement of retail merchandise carried within the retail display system. The audible provides an indication of enhanced security and can alert store employees in proximity to the retail display system that merchandise has been added to or removed from the retail display system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Southern Imperial, Inc.
    Inventor: Joerg Niederhuefner
  • Patent number: 8439208
    Abstract: A pusher is provided. The pusher hook has a track and a pusher that is slidable thereon. The pusher biases retail merchandise situated on a merchandise hook forward towards a front stop. The pusher hook further includes a security frame that reduces or restricts entirely the ability to remove the merchandise laterally from the hook.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Southern Imperial, Inc.
    Inventors: Joerg Niederhuefner, Todd C. Westberg, Stanley C. Valiulis, Patrick J. Barkdoll
  • Publication number: 20120273434
    Abstract: A pusher hook is provided. The pusher hook has a track and a pusher that is slidable thereon. The pusher biases retail merchandise situated on a merchandise hook forward towards a front stop. The pusher hook further includes a security frame that reduces or restricts entirely the ability to remove the merchandise laterally from the hook.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2012
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Applicant: SOUTHERN IMPERIAL, INC.
    Inventors: Joerg Niederhuefner, Todd C. Westberg, Stanley C. Valiulis, Patrick J. Barkdoll
  • Patent number: 8240486
    Abstract: A retail merchandise hook which includes a hook for hanging retail merchandise therefrom and a security frame including a front stop which is separate from and arranged in a spaced relation to the hook, wherein the security frame is designed to prevent the theft of the retail merchandise. The retail merchandise hook also includes a pusher moveable relative to the hook and operable to bias retail merchandise hanging from the hook into engagement with the front stop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Southern Imperial, Inc.
    Inventors: Joerg Niederhuefner, Todd C. Westberg, Stanley C. Valiulis, Patrick J. Barkdoll
  • Publication number: 20120176244
    Abstract: A method of preventing the theft of packaged products from a building, in which the method includes the steps of incorporating an electronic device into the packaging material for the packaged product, and configuring the electronic device to activate an alarm if the packaged product is removed from the building prior to deactivation of the electronic device. In a particular embodiment, the method further includes configuring the electronic device to impair the function or appearance of the packaged product if the packaged product is removed from the building prior to deactivation of the electronic device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2012
    Publication date: July 12, 2012
    Applicant: SOUTHERN IMPERIAL, INC.
    Inventor: Joerg Niederhuefner
  • Publication number: 20120053725
    Abstract: A retail merchandise dispensing system is provided. The retail merchandise dispensing system includes at least one dispensing unit. The dispensing unit has an input interface to facilitate the purchase of items from the retail merchandise dispensing system. The dispensing unit or groups of dispensing units can be fixedly mounted in a retail environment using various mounting bracket configurations. The dispensing unit or groups of dispensing units also communicate with an inventory management system. The inventory management system is configured to track inventory levels, communicate with various security systems, and communicated remotely with store employees via a mobile device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2011
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicant: SOUTHERN IMPERIAL, INC.
    Inventors: Joerg Niederhuefner, Stanley C. Valiulis
  • Publication number: 20110215061
    Abstract: A pusher hook is provided. The pusher hook has a track and a pusher that is slidable thereon. The pusher biases retail merchandise situated on a merchandise hook forward towards a front stop. The pusher hook further includes a security frame that reduces or restricts entirely the ability to remove the merchandise laterally from the hook.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2010
    Publication date: September 8, 2011
    Applicant: Southern Imperial, Inc.
    Inventors: Joerg Niederhuefner, Todd C. Westberg, Stanley C. Valiulis, Patrick J. Barkdoll
  • Publication number: 20110218889
    Abstract: A retail display system with integrated inventory management and security is provided. The retail display system is operably connected to a control module operable to detect the addition or removal of inventory from the retail display system. The control module may be configured to manually or automatically associate a quantity of merchandise with a value of a sensed parameter, such that control module recognizes that the occurrence of the sensed parameter corresponds to the addition or subtraction of merchandise.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2010
    Publication date: September 8, 2011
    Applicant: Southern Imperial, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd C. Westberg, Joerg Niederhuefner
  • Publication number: 20110215060
    Abstract: An alarm sounding retail display system is provided. The alarm sounding retail display system is operable to provide an audible tone upon the movement of retail merchandise carried within the retail display system. The audible provides an indication of enhanced security and can alert store employees in proximity to the retail display system that merchandise has been added to or removed from the retail display system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2010
    Publication date: September 8, 2011
    Applicant: Southern Imperial, Inc.
    Inventor: Joerg Niederhuefner