Display device with slow product advancing mechanism

Abstract

A display device includes an enclosure for receiving a plurality of items of merchandise. The enclosure has a first side wall, a second side wall spaced apart from the first side wall and a front portion. The display device also includes a product advancing mechanism for advancing the items of merchandise toward the front portion of the enclosure for dispensing an item of merchandise. The product advancing mechanism includes a track disposed between the first and second side walls, a pusher body slidably engaging the track, a biasing element for biasing the pusher body, and a governing device for controlling the rate at which the first biasing element displaces the pusher body toward the front portion of the enclosure.

1 . A display device comprising:
 an enclosure for receiving a plurality of items of merchandise, said enclosure comprising a first side wall, a second side wall spaced apart from said first side wall and a front portion; and   a product advancing mechanism for advancing the plurality of items of merchandise toward said front portion of said enclosure for dispensing an item of the plurality of items of merchandise, said product advancing mechanism comprising:   a track disposed between said first side wall and said second side wall;   a pusher body slidably engaging said track;   a first biasing element for biasing said pusher body toward said front portion of said enclosure; and   a governing device for controlling the rate at which said first biasing element displaces said pusher body toward said front portion of the enclosure.   
   
   
       2 . The display device according to  claim 1 , wherein said governing device comprises a gear rack disposed on said track; and a rotary damper coupled to said pusher body and engaging said gear rack. 
   
   
       3 . The display device according to  claim 1  wherein said first biasing element comprises a spring. 
   
   
       4 . The display device according to  claim 1 , wherein said enclosure further comprises a slidable top member movable between a first position wherein the item of merchandise cannot be removed from said enclosure and a second position wherein the item of merchandise can be removed from said enclosure. 
   
   
       5 . The display device according to  claim 4 , further comprising a second biasing element coupled to said slidable top member for biasing said slidable top member into said first position. 
   
   
       6 . The display device according to  claim 5 , further comprising a second governing device coupled to said slidable top member for controlling a rate at which said second biasing element displaces said slidable top member towards said front portion of said enclosure 
   
   
       7 . The display device according to  claim 4 , further comprising a first locking pin and a second locking pin wherein said slidable top member displaces said first locking pin and said second locking pin from a retracted position to an extended position as said slidable top member is moved from said first position to said second position. 
   
   
       8 . The display device according to  claim 4 , further comprising:
 a tapered projection disposed on an underside of said slidable top member;   a bracket;   a first locking pin slidably mounted in said bracket and biased inwardly toward said tapered projection; and   a second locking pin slidably mounted in said bracket and biased inwardly toward said tapered projection;   wherein said tapered projection displaces said first locking pin and said second locking pin from a retracted position to an extended position as said slidable top member is moved from said first position to said second position, and in said extended position said first locking pin projects through an associated first opening provided in said first side wall and said second locking pin projects through an associated second opening in said second side wall.   
   
   
       9 . The display device according to  claim 1 , wherein said enclosure further comprises a pivoting door coupled to said front portion of said enclosure, said pivoting door being movable between a first position wherein the item of merchandise cannot be removed from said enclosure and a second position wherein the item of merchandise can be removed from said enclosure. 
   
   
       10 . The display device according to  claim 9 , wherein said pivoting door has an opening therethrough for loading the plurality of items of merchandise into said enclosure. 
   
   
       11 . The display device according to  claim 9 , further comprising a second biasing element coupled to said pivoting door for biasing said pivoting door into said first position. 
   
   
       12 . The display device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a cover member covering at least a portion of a top of said enclosure and said front portion of said enclosure, said cover member having a front portion spaced apart from a front edge of a surface of said enclosure on which the items of merchandise rest by a distance sufficient to allow the item of merchandise to drop to a position where the item may be removed from the enclosure; and
 a displaceable retaining member disposed at a lower front portion of said enclosure, said displaceable retaining member being movable between a first position wherein the item of merchandise cannot be removed from said enclosure and a second position wherein the item of merchandise can be removed from said enclosure.   
   
   
       13 . A display device comprising a plurality of product dispensers, each of said plurality of product dispensers comprising:
 a) an enclosure for receiving a plurality of items of merchandise, said enclosure comprising:
 a first side wall; 
 a second side wall spaced apart from said first side wall; 
 a front portion; 
 a gate movable between a first position wherein an item of merchandise of said plurality of items of merchandise cannot be removed from said enclosure and a second position wherein the item of merchandise can be removed from said enclosure; 
 a first locking pin and a second locking pin wherein said gate displaces said first locking pin and said second locking pin from a retracted position to an extended position as said gate is moved from said first position to said second position; and 
   b) a product advancing mechanism for advancing the items of merchandise toward said front portion of said enclosure for dispensing the item of merchandise, said product advancing mechanism comprising:
 a track disposed between said first side wall and said second side wall; 
 a pusher body slidably engaging said track; 
 a first biasing element for biasing said pusher body toward said front portion of said enclosure; and 
 a governing device for controlling the rate at which said first biasing element displaces said pusher body toward said front portion of the enclosure, 
   wherein when said first locking pin and said second locking pin associated with a first product dispenser of said plurality of product dispensers are in said extended position, a gate associated with a second product dispenser of said plurality of product dispensers cannot be moved to said second position.   
   
   
       14 . The display device according to  claim 13 , further comprising a second biasing element coupled to said gate for biasing said gate into said first position. 
   
   
       15 . The display device according to  claim 13 , wherein said gate comprises a pivoting door coupled to said front portion of said enclosure. 
   
   
       16 . The display device according to  claim 13 , wherein said gate comprises a slidable top member.