Patents by Inventor Stephen N. Hardy

Stephen N. Hardy 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: 11730286
    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. A plurality of thin dividers separate the product into rows. The dividers may be formed separately and attached and secured by being inserted into a plurality of grooves arranged along the lower surface and the forward and rear support posts of the product dispensing tray. The dividers are configured to self-adjust by laterally shifting within the grooves when the product is moved forward by the pusher to being loaded by an operator to allow the product to be positioned in a tight fitting manner to maximize the amount of product that can be accommodated horizontally across the tray. In addition, the dividers may have a bottom wall spaced from the surface with a support column that is inserted into an elongated pocket to provide the structural support for the divider.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: RTC Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen N. Hardy
  • Patent number: 11659943
    Abstract: A method of providing a merchandising system that includes a base supporting a product, configuring a housing to engage the base, wherein the base comprises a top wall, a first side wall, and a second side wall, configuring a rotatable door assembly to slidably engage the housing and the base, wherein the rotatable door assembly is configured with a door to hold the product, wherein the door is configured to move from a closed position to an open position, connecting a door spacer to the door and configuring the door spacer bar to rotate away from a front of the door, and mounting a locking assembly to the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: RTC Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen N. Hardy
  • Patent number: 11583108
    Abstract: An adjustable tray for a merchandise display system may include a retainer for limiting the movement of products loaded in the adjustable tray, a first divider extending from a first panel and second divider extending from a second panel. The spacing between the first divider and the second divider can be configured to be adjusted. The first panel and the second panel can be configured to move to provide additional surface area for the adjustable tray to accommodate different sized products. The adjustable tray may further include a pusher mechanism configured to bias product toward the retainer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: RTC Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen N. Hardy
  • Patent number: 11583109
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: RTC Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen N. Hardy
  • Patent number: 11517126
    Abstract: A product management display system for merchandising product on a shelf includes a tray having a front curved portion and a surface defining a plurality of glide rails, a tip extending from the front curved portion of the tray wherein the tip has a first edge, a second edge, and a third edge and wherein at least two of the edges are substantially straight, a mounting member positioned behind the tip wherein the mounting member is a slot, a product retaining member positioned above the front curved portion of the tray, a first divider and a second divider, and a pusher configured to engage the tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: RTC Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen N. Hardy
  • Patent number: 11490743
    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: November 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: RTC Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen N. Hardy
  • Patent number: 11484131
    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 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: RTC Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen N Hardy
  • Patent number: 11468401
    Abstract: Sensor-equipped display management systems and methods that may be used to calculate a number of products removed from a display management system based upon motion of one or more mechanisms within the display management system. Additionally, the systems and methods may be used to detect patterns from the sensor data, which may be indicative of attempted theft of products stored within the display management system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: RTC Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick Costello, Stephen N. Hardy, Tony Dipaolo
  • Patent number: 11464346
    Abstract: A product management display system may include a tray having a front rounded portion and a surface defining a plurality of apertures, a front wall having a top portion and two side legs. The side legs may define a bottom portion, and the top portion, the two side legs, and the bottom portion form an opening, and a strip of advertising may be present on the front wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: RTC Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen N. Hardy
  • Patent number: 11452386
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: RTC Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen N. Hardy
  • Publication number: 20220218123
    Abstract: A merchandise display system can include a front rail, at least one divider configured to engage the front rail, the at least one divider including a barrier. The at least one divider may also include a divider wall, and a roller carriage extending along the divider wall. The roller carriage can be provided with a plurality of rollers, and the roller carriage can be configured to advance the product. Additionally, the roller carriage can be tilted such that the product is configured to move toward the barrier. The roller carriage can be formed of a first portion and a second portion, and the roller carriage can be provided with a plurality of axles that are configured to receive the plurality of rollers such that the plurality of rollers are configured to rotate on the roller carriage. A method for forming a merchandise display system is also contemplated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2022
    Publication date: July 14, 2022
    Inventor: Stephen N. Hardy
  • Patent number: 11375826
    Abstract: A merchandising system for merchandising product. The merchandising system may include a movable barrier located above a plurality of product and rotatable between an open position which permits removal of product from the display system and a closed position which obstructs access to the product. The merchandising system may also include an alert device configured to provide a signal when the movable barrier is in the open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: RTC Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen N. Hardy
  • Patent number: 11344138
    Abstract: A product management display system for merchandising product on a shelf includes a divider secured to a support structure and a barrier that is moveable by rotation between a folded position and an upright position without a rotation biasing element. A product positioned in the system can contact the barrier when the product moves toward the forward end of the system and rotate the barrier from the folded position to the upright position. The system may include a rotational mounting structure to which the moveable barrier is connected. The rotational mounting structure may be removably connected to the forward end of the divider. The merchandise display system may be used in conjunction with a product tray which provides for product stored in the product tray to be slid from in the product tray into the product pocket of the merchandise display system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: RTC Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen N. Hardy, Stuart Parsons
  • Publication number: 20220104635
    Abstract: An adjustable tray for a merchandise display system may include a retainer for limiting the movement of products loaded in the adjustable tray, a first divider extending from a first panel and second divider extending from a second panel. The spacing between the first divider and the second divider can be configured to be adjusted. The first panel and the second panel can be configured to move to provide additional surface area for the adjustable tray to accommodate different sized products. The adjustable tray may further include a pusher mechanism configured to bias product toward the retainer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2021
    Publication date: April 7, 2022
    Inventor: Stephen N. Hardy
  • Patent number: 11259652
    Abstract: A merchandise display system can include a front rail, at least one divider configured to engage the front rail, the at least one divider including a barrier. The at least one divider may also include a divider wall, and a roller carriage extending along the divider wall. The roller carriage can be provided with a plurality of rollers, and the roller carriage can be configured to advance the product. Additionally, the roller carriage can be tilted such that the product is configured to move toward the barrier. The roller carriage can be formed of a first portion and a second portion, and the roller carriage can provided with a plurality of axles that are configured to receive the plurality of rollers such that the plurality of rollers are configured to rotate on the roller carriage. A method for forming a merchandise display system is also contemplated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: RTC Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen N. Hardy
  • Publication number: 20220058572
    Abstract: Sensor-equipped display management systems and methods that may be used to calculate a number of products removed from a display management system based upon motion of one or more mechanisms within the display management system. Additionally, the systems and methods may be used to detect patterns from the sensor data, which may be indicative of attempted theft of products stored within the display management system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2021
    Publication date: February 24, 2022
    Inventors: Patrick Costello, Stephen N. Hardy, Tony Dipaolo
  • Publication number: 20220000282
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2021
    Publication date: January 6, 2022
    Inventor: Stephen N. Hardy
  • Publication number: 20210378420
    Abstract: A product management display system for merchandising product on a shelf includes a divider secured to a support structure, a pusher to move product, a barrier, and a low product indicator device. The low product indicator device may be visible when an amount of product positioned on the top surface of the divider floor or on the shelf is low.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2021
    Publication date: December 9, 2021
    Inventor: Stephen N. Hardy
  • Publication number: 20210369007
    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 merchandise system may be configured to hold a number of products, such as cans (for example, baby formula cans) in the merchandise system that would be accessible to the customer one at a time out of the front of the merchandise system. The front of each merchandise system may include its own individual security window attached to the merchandise system that allows the customer to remove one can at a time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2021
    Publication date: December 2, 2021
    Inventors: Tony Dipaolo, Stephen N. Hardy, John Wildman
  • Patent number: 11178982
    Abstract: An adjustable tray for a merchandise display system may include a retainer for limiting the movement of products loaded in the adjustable tray, a first divider extending from a first panel and second divider extending from a second panel. The spacing between the first divider and the second divider can be configured to be adjusted. The first panel and the second panel can be configured to move to provide additional surface area for the adjustable tray to accommodate different sized products. The adjustable tray may further include a pusher mechanism configured to bias product toward the retainer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: RTC Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen N. Hardy