Merchandise Presentation

Abstract

A method and apparatus are disclosed for locating at least one display item ( 130 ) at a desired location. The apparatus comprises an elongate shaft ( 180 ) which includes a shaft latch ( 250 ) and at least one pusher element which is moveable with a support ( 175 ) that is slideable along the shaft ( 250 ) and a sliding latch ( 210 ) that moves with the support ( 175 ). The shaft ( 180 ) is rotatable to set the shaft latch ( 250 ) in an inactive state or an active state in which the shaft latch ( 250 ) can secure the sliding latch ( 210 ).

1 . Apparatus for locating at least one display item at a desired location, comprising:
 an elongate shaft member comprising a shaft latch member; and   at least one pusher element moveable with a support that is slidable along the shaft member and a sliding latch member that moves with the support; wherein   the shaft member is rotatable to set the shaft latch member in an inactive state or an active state in which the shaft latch member can secure the sliding latch member.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 the support and pusher element are continually biased towards a first end of the shaft member.   
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 the support comprises an elongate hollow element that slides along an outer surface of the shaft member and substantially prevents twisting motion of the support and pusher element, with respect to the shaft member, about a twist axis perpendicular to a longitudinal axis associate with the support.   
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 in a first mode of operation, the shaft member is in a pre-determined rotational position, the shaft latch member is in an active state and is secured to the sliding latch member to restrain movement of the pusher element and support in a longitudinal direction along the shaft member and/or   in a second mode of operation, the shaft member is not in the pre-determined rotational position and the shaft latch member is in an inactive state unsecured to the sliding latch member to permit movement of the pusher element and support along the shaft member away from the shaft latch member and/or   in a third mode of operation, the shaft member is in the pre-determined rotational position and the shaft latch member is in an inactive state unsecured to the sliding latch member to permit movement of the pusher element and support along the shaft member towards the shaft latch member.   
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 the support comprises a slidable collar and the pusher element comprises a cross bar member connected to the slidable collar or at least one pusher plate connected to a cross bar member connected to the slidable collar.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 9 , further comprising:
 the collar and cross bar member are integrally formed.   
     
     
         11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 the shaft latch member comprises at least one groove in an outer surface of the shaft member or at least one pin element extending outwards from the outer surface.   
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 13 , further comprising:
 the groove extends circumferentially for less than half the circumference of the shaft member.   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 the sliding latch member comprises a biased hook element secured at a first end to the support and having a free end that is biased towards an outer surface of the shaft member.   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 16 , further comprising:
 the hook element is formed from spring steel or acetyl material and optionally the hook element comprises a backwards facing leg at the free end.   
     
     
         18 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the sliding latch member comprises a pivoting plate member having a free end biased towards an outer surface of the shaft member. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a lower shelf member that supports one or more display items in one or more rows on an upper, lower shelf surface directly or via a portion of a packaging box or carton.   
     
     
         20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method for locating at least one display item at a desired location, comprising the steps of:
 sliding a support that moves with at least one pusher element along an elongate shaft member to urge at least one display item towards a desired location; and   setting a shaft latch member to an active state in which the shaft latch member can secure a sliding latch member that moves with the support, by rotating the shaft member.   
     
     
         22 . The method as claimed in  claim 21 , further comprising the steps of:
 in a first mode of operation in which the shaft member is in a pre-determined rotational position corresponding to an active state, preventing motion of the support along the shaft member by securing the sliding latch member to the shaft latch member.   
     
     
         23 . The method as claimed in  claim 22 , further comprising the steps of:
 in the first mode of operation, re-stocking a shelf member comprising a shelf lip by locating at least one item of media on an upper surface of the shelf member between the pusher plate and the shelf lip.   
     
     
         24 . The method as claimed in  claim 21 , further comprising the steps of:
 in a second mode of operation in which the shaft member is not in the pre-determined rotational position, urging the pusher element towards a desired location by urging the support that moves with the pusher element to slide along the shaft member away from the shaft latch member.   
     
     
         25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . The method as claimed in  claim 21 , further comprising the steps of:
 rotating the shaft member and, in a third mode of operation in which the shaft member is in the pre-determined rotational position, urging the pusher plate and/or support towards the shaft latch member.   
     
     
         27 . The method as claimed in  claim 26 , further comprising the steps of:
 initiating a re-stocking of a shelf procedure by pushing the pusher element and/or support away from a front lip region of a shelf member by hand in the third mode of operation.   
     
     
         28 . Apparatus for locating at least one display item at a desired location on a display surface of a shelf, comprising:
 an elongate mounting member comprising a rotatable shaft member; and   a pusher element mounted on the mounting member; wherein   the mounting member is securable to an underside of an upper shelf element and the pusher element is biased to urge at least one display item on a display surface of a lower shelf, located in a substantially parallel spaced apart relationship with the upper shelf element, towards a front edge region of the lower shelf and wherein the rotatable shaft member comprises a shaft latch member and the pusher element is movable with a support that is slidable along the shaft member and a sliding latch member that moves with the support.   
     
     
         29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 28 , further comprising:
 at least a first end of the mounting member is connected to at least one connector to secure the mounting member in a pre-determined location under the upper shelf element.   
     
     
         32 - 39 . (canceled)