Pusher assembly

Abstract

A pusher assembly is positionable on a shelf for maintaining product on the shelf. The pusher assembly includes a pusher frame, a pusher plate assembly, at least one stop member, and a pusher plate biasing assembly. The pusher frame has a front end, a rear end, a first sidewall, a spatially disposed second sidewall and at least one product receiving space formed between the first and second sidewalls. The pusher plate assembly is disposed in the at least one product receiving space and is selectively movable through the at least one product receiving space for moving product through the at least one product receiving space. The at least one stop member is connected to the front end of the pusher frame for stabilizing product in the at least one product receiving space. The pusher plate biasing assembly biases the pusher plate assembly forward toward the at least one stop member.

1 . A pusher assembly positionable on a shelf for maintaining product on the shelf, the pusher assembly comprising:
 a pusher frame having a front end, a rear end, a first sidewall, a spatially disposed second sidewall and at least one product receiving space formed between the first and second sidewalls for receiving a row of product;   a pusher plate assembly disposed in the at least one product receiving space, the pusher plate assembly selectively movable through the at least one product receiving space for moving product through the at least one product receiving space when the forward most product is removed from the at least one product receiving space of the pusher frame;   at least one stop member connected to the front end of the pusher frame for stabilizing product in the at least one product receiving space and for preventing discharge of product from the at least one product receiving space as the product is caused to move forward through the at least one product receiving space of the pusher frame; and   a pusher plate biasing assembly for biasing the pusher plate assembly forward toward the at least one stop member, the pusher plate biasing assembly comprising:
 at least one roller having a circumferential groove, the at least one roller rotatably connected to a portion of the pusher frame; and 
 a bungee cord disposed along the base of the pusher frame so as to operably engage the at least one roller rotatably connected to the portion of the base frame, the bungee cord engaging the pusher plate assembly so as to bias the pusher plate assembly in a forward direction to ensure that product is moved forward in the product receiving space of the pusher assembly when the forward most product in the row of product supported in the product receiving space is removed. 
   
   
   
       2 . The pusher assembly of  claim 1  wherein the pusher frame further comprises:
 a base assembly for supporting and stabilizing the pusher plate assembly as the pusher plate assembly travels along the product receiving space of the pusher frame.   
   
   
       3 . The pusher assembly of  claim 2  wherein the base assembly comprises:
 a pair of spatially disposed guide tracks extending along the base assembly of the pusher frame.   
   
   
       4 . The pusher assembly of  claim 3  wherein the pusher plate assembly comprises:
 a pusher sled assembly slidably mounted on the pair of guide tracks of the pusher frame, the pusher sled assembly operably connected to the bungee cord of the pusher plate biasing assembly for selectively moving the pusher sled assembly along the at least one product receiving space when product is removed from the product receiving space.   
   
   
       5 . The pusher assembly of  claim 4  wherein the pusher sled assembly comprises:
 at least one pusher plate; and   a pusher sled supporting the at least one pusher plate, the pusher sled having a pair of spatially disposed track followers for operably engaging the pair of guide tracks extending along the base assembly of the pusher frame.   
   
   
       6 . The pusher assembly of  claim 5  further comprising:
 a stop plate assembly removably connected to the front end of the pusher assembly for preventing forward movement of the pusher plate assembly past the stop plate assembly.   
   
   
       7 . The pusher assembly of  claim 3  wherein the base assembly of the pusher frame assembly has a slot formed between the pair of spatially disposed guide tracks. 
   
   
       8 . The pusher assembly of  claim 7  wherein a post is connected to a portion of the pusher plate assembly, the post extending longitudinally in a downward direction so as to be substantially disposed in the slot such that the post travels along the slot. 
   
   
       9 . The pusher assembly of  claim 8  wherein the bungee cord is operably connected to the post of the pusher plate assembly whereby the pusher plate assembly is biased in a forward position in the product receiving space of the pusher frame. 
   
   
       10 . A method for displaying and storing merchandise on a shelf comprising the steps of:
 providing a pusher assembly wherein the pusher assembly comprises:
 a pusher frame having a front end, a rear end, a first sidewall, a spatially disposed second sidewall and at least one product receiving space formed between the first and second sidewalls for receiving a row of product; 
 a pusher plate assembly disposed in the at least one product receiving space, the pusher plate assembly selectively movable through the at least one product receiving space for moving product through the at least one product receiving space when the forward most product is removed from the at least one product receiving space of the pusher frame; 
 at least one stop member connected to the front end of the pusher frame for stabilizing product in the at least one product receiving space and for preventing discharge of product from the at least one product receiving space as the product is caused to move forward through the at least one product receiving space of the pusher frame; and 
 a pusher plate biasing assembly for biasing the pusher plate assembly forward toward the at least one stop member, the pusher plate biasing assembly comprising:
 at least one roller having a circumferential groove, the at least one roller rotatably connected to a portion of the pusher frame; and 
 a bungee cord disposed along the base of the pusher frame so as to operably engage the at least one roller rotatably connected to the portion of the base frame, the bungee cord engaging the pusher plate assembly so as to bias the pusher plate assembly in a forward direction to ensure that product is moved forward in the product receiving space of the pusher assembly when the forward most product in the row of product supported in the product receiving space is removed; 
 
   securing the pusher assembly to a shelf;   moving the pusher plate assembly in a rearward direction to provide access to the product receiving space defined by the pusher assembly;   aligning product within the product receiving space to form a row of products; and   releasing the pusher plate assembly such that the pusher plate assembly is biased in a forward direction and engages a rearwardly disposed item in the row of product whereby as product is removed from the row of product the pusher plate assembly causes the row of product to move forward in the product receiving space whereby product present in the product receiving space remains visible and accessible to a customer.