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: 10568438
    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: January 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: RTC Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen N. Hardy
  • Publication number: 20200054151
    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: August 23, 2019
    Publication date: February 20, 2020
    Inventor: Stephen N. Hardy
  • Patent number: 10555624
    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 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: RTC Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen N. Hardy
  • Publication number: 20200037785
    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: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2019
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Inventor: Stephen N. Hardy
  • Publication number: 20200041189
    Abstract: A portable insulating device kit may be configured to fit within a smaller container for easier shipment. In one example, the assembly may include a base, a top wall having an opening, an inner liner configured to extend into the opening of the top wall to form an interior cavity defining a volumetric storage capacity and an exterior wall. The container can have a flat configuration defining a length, height, and width. The base, the top wall, the inner liner, and the exterior wall may be configured to be assembled into a portable insulating device. The volume of the container may be less than the volumetric storage capacity of the assembled portable insulating device, and the base, the inner liner, and the exterior wall are configured to be detached from one another and shipped in the container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2019
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Inventors: Stephen N. Hardy, Gideon Schlessinger, Fred Geiger, Julio Lozano
  • Publication number: 20200000245
    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: May 13, 2019
    Publication date: January 2, 2020
    Inventor: Stephen N. Hardy
  • Publication number: 20190387899
    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 4, 2019
    Publication date: December 26, 2019
    Inventors: Tony Dipaolo, Stephen N. Hardy, John Wildman
  • Patent number: 10448756
    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: June 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: RTC Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen N. Hardy
  • Patent number: 10441092
    Abstract: A product management display system for merchandising product on a shelf includes using a trackless pusher mechanism that travels along a tray on which product is placed and one or more dividers for separating product into rows. The tray may include a notch for accessing the merchandising product from below and the product management display system may be thin to minimize vertical height. The trays may also be engaged with the shelf and may be, locked and unlocked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: RTC Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen N. Hardy
  • Patent number: 10413090
    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: September 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: RTC Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen N. Hardy
  • Patent number: 10408521
    Abstract: A portable insulating device kit may be configured to fit within a smaller container for easier shipment. In one example, the assembly may include a base, a top wall having an opening, an inner liner configured to extend into the opening of the top wall to form an interior cavity defining a volumetric storage capacity and an exterior wall. The container can have a flat configuration defining a length, height, and width. The base, the top wall, the inner liner, and the exterior wall may be configured to be assembled into a portable insulating device. The volume of the container may be less than the volumetric storage capacity of the assembled portable insulating device, and the base, the inner liner, and the exterior wall are configured to be detached from one another and shipped in the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: RTC Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen N. Hardy, Gideon Schlessinger, Fred Geiger, Julio Lozano
  • Publication number: 20190239657
    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 mounted to the base at an angle. The system may further include a spring-urged pusher movably mounted on the base. The system may further include an opening defined by the first side wall and the front retaining wall through which product may be removed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2019
    Publication date: August 8, 2019
    Inventor: Stephen N. Hardy
  • Publication number: 20190216234
    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: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2019
    Publication date: July 18, 2019
    Inventor: Stephen N. Hardy
  • Patent number: 10349755
    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: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: RTC Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Tony Dipaolo, Stephen N. Hardy, John Wildman
  • Publication number: 20190167013
    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: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2019
    Publication date: June 6, 2019
    Inventors: Stephen N. Hardy, Stuart Parsons
  • Publication number: 20190167012
    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: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2019
    Publication date: June 6, 2019
    Inventor: Stephen N. Hardy
  • Patent number: 10285510
    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: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: RTC Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen N. Hardy
  • Publication number: 20190133343
    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: December 28, 2018
    Publication date: May 9, 2019
    Inventor: Stephen N. Hardy
  • Patent number: 10278516
    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: November 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: RTC Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen N. Hardy
  • Patent number: 10258169
    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 mounted to the base at an angle. The system may further include a spring-urged pusher movably mounted on the base. The system may further include an opening defined by the first side wall and the front retaining wall through which product may be removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: RTC Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen N. Hardy