System for Inventory Management

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. Audible and/or visual alerts can be provided when an attempted theft is detected.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A merchandise display system, comprising:
 a front rail;   a divider removably attachable to the front rail, the divider including a divider floor, a divider wall, and a barrier located forward of the divider wall;   a resilient tab coupled to the divider and movable between an engaged position, wherein the resilient tab cooperates with the front rail to prevent the divider from moving laterally along the front rail and a disengaged position that allows the divider to move laterally along the front rail, a portion of the resilient tab extends above the front rail when the divider is attached to the front rail, and the portion of the resilient tab is located forward of the barrier when the resilient tab is in the engaged position;   a spring-urged pusher configured to couple to the front rail, the spring urged pusher configured to push product toward the front rail;   a sensing device coupled to the spring-urged pusher and configured to sense movement of the spring-urged pusher; and   a processor configured to receive information from the sensing device and provide notification based on movement of the spring-urged pusher.   
     
     
         2 . The merchandise display system of  claim 1 , wherein the barrier is coupled to the divider wall. 
     
     
         3 . The merchandise display system of  claim 1 , wherein the barrier is spaced apart from the divider wall. 
     
     
         4 . The merchandise display system of  claim 1 , wherein the resilient tab includes forwardly extending projections that engage rearwardly extending projections on the front rail. 
     
     
         5 . The merchandise display system of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of teeth on the front rail and a plurality of teeth on the resilient tab configured to engage the plurality of teeth on the front rail. 
     
     
         6 . The merchandise display system of  claim 3 , wherein when a force is applied to the resilient tab, the teeth move in a direction of the force toward the disengaged position and when the force is removed, the teeth will move back to the engaged position. 
     
     
         7 . The merchandise display system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 projections formed on a rear surface of the front rail; and   projections formed on a front surface of the resilient tab that are configured to engage the projections formed on the front rail.   
     
     
         8 . The merchandise display system of  claim 1 , wherein the divider comprises a plurality of teeth at a bottom of a front portion of the divider. 
     
     
         9 . The merchandise display system of  claim 1 , wherein the barrier is substantially perpendicular to the divider. 
     
     
         10 . The merchandise display system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a tongue on the front rail; and   a recess formed on the divider, the recess receiving the tongue when the divider is attached to the front rail.   
     
     
         11 . The merchandise display system of  claim 1 , wherein the divider floor is divided by the divider wall into a first portion and a second portion. 
     
     
         12 . The merchandise display system of  claim 1 , wherein the front rail is removably-coupled at a front edge of a display surface. 
     
     
         13 . The merchandise display system of  claim 1 , wherein the spring-urged pusher includes a coiled spring. 
     
     
         14 . The merchandise display system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor determines a rate of change in a product level. 
     
     
         15 . The merchandise display system of  claim 14 , wherein the processor provides notification when a deviation in a typical movement of the pusher has occurred. 
     
     
         16 . The merchandise display system of  claim 1 , further comprising a transmitter mounted to the spring-urged pusher, the transmitter configured to communicate a signal. 
     
     
         17 . The merchandise display system of  claim 16 , further comprising a remote processing device configured to receive the signal sent from the transmitter. 
     
     
         18 . The merchandise display system of  claim 17 , wherein the sensing device determines a rate of change in a product level and provides a notification when the determined rate of change exceeds a threshold rate of change. 
     
     
         19 . The merchandise display system of  claim 1 , wherein the sensing device comprises a laser. 
     
     
         20 . A merchandise display system, comprising:
 a divider removably attachable to a front rail, the divider including a divider floor, a divider wall, and a barrier located forward of the divider wall;   a resilient tab coupled to the divider and movable between an engaged position where the resilient tab cooperates with the front rail to prevent the divider from moving laterally along the front rail when a plurality of teeth on the resilient tab are engaged with a plurality of teeth on the front rail and a disengaged position that allows the divider to move laterally along the front rail when the plurality of teeth on the resilient tab are disengaged with the plurality of teeth on the front rail;   a spring-urged pusher configured to couple to the front rail, the spring urged pusher configured to push product toward the front rail and comprising a coiled spring;   a sensing device coupled to the spring-urged pusher and configured to sense movement of a surface of the spring-urged pusher; and   a processor configured to receive information from the sensing device and provide notification based on an occurrence of a deviation in a typical movement of the pusher;   wherein a portion of the resilient tab extends above the front rail when the divider is attached to the front rail and the portion of the resilient tab is located forward of the barrier when the resilient tab is in the engaged position; and   wherein the divider floor is divided by the divider wall into a first portion and a second portion.