US-12617627-B2 - Selectively securable roller track

Abstract

A merchandise security system for a retail shelf includes a front rail having a base, a front wall, and a rear wall spaced apart from the front wall by a channel. The system also includes a roller track configured to engage the front rail and operable to translate along the front rail. Here, the roller track includes a plurality of rollers and a frame. The plurality of rollers are selectively engaged with the front rail.

Inventors

• Thomas Nagel
• Shane Obitts

Assignees

• FASTENERS FOR RETAIL, INC.

Dates

Publication Date

20260505

Application Date

20240202

Claims (20)

1. 1 . A merchandise system for a retail shelf including a front rail defining a channel extending along a first direction, the system comprising: a roller track configured to selectively engage the front rail and operable to translate along the front rail in the first direction, the roller track including: a frame selectively engaged with the front rail and a plurality of rollers attached to the frame; and a rail coupler having a main body and a front lip, the front lip defined by a first portion extending from the main body of the rail coupler, a second portion spaced apart and opposing the first portion, and a third portion extending between and connecting the first portion to the second portion, the first portion and the second portion diverging from one another as they extend away from the third portion.
2. 2 . The merchandise system of claim 1 , wherein the rail coupler is configured to selectively engage with the front rail.
3. 3 . The merchandise system of claim 2 , wherein the rail coupler further includes a bearing element and a catch, the front lip configured to selectively engage the front rail when the roller track is engaged with the front rail.
4. 4 . The merchandise system of claim 3 , wherein the bearing element is spaced apart from the catch by a slot.
5. 5 . The merchandise system of claim 4 , wherein the main body includes an opening formed through a thickness of the main body along the slot.
6. 6 . The merchandise system of claim 1 , further comprising a stop lens configured to selectively engage the roller track.
7. 7 . The merchandise system of claim 6 , wherein the roller track further includes a first cutout and a second cutout configured to receive the stop lens.
8. 8 . The merchandise system of claim 1 , wherein the roller track is configured to slidably engage the channel of the front rail.
9. 9 . The merchandise system of claim 8 , further comprising a first divider and a second divider, wherein the roller track is disposed between the first divider and the second divider.
10. 10 . The merchandise system of claim 1 , wherein the roller track includes a bearing element spaced apart from a catch to define a slot, the slot configured to selectively receive a portion of the front rail.
11. 11 . A merchandise system for a retail shelf, the merchandise system comprising: a front rail defining a channel extending along a first direction; and a roller track configured to slidably engage the front rail and operable to translate along the front rail in the first direction, the roller track including: a frame selectively engaged with the front rail and a plurality of rollers attached to the frame; and a rail coupler having a main body and a front lip, the front lip defined by a first portion extending from the main body of the rail coupler, a second portion spaced apart and opposing the first portion, and a third portion extending between and connecting the first portion to the second portion, the first portion diverging from the second portion as it extends away from the third portion.
12. 12 . The merchandise system of claim 11 , wherein the rail coupler is configured to selectively engage with the front rail.
13. 13 . The merchandise system of claim 12 , wherein the rail coupler further includes a bearing element, and a catch, the front lip configured to selectively engage with the front rail when the roller track is engaged with the front rail.
14. 14 . The merchandise system of claim 13 , wherein the bearing element is spaced apart from the catch by a slot.
15. 15 . The merchandise system of claim 14 , wherein the main body includes an opening formed through a thickness of the main body along the slot.
16. 16 . The merchandise system of claim 11 , further comprising a stop lens configured to selectively engage the roller track.
17. 17 . The merchandise system of claim 16 , wherein the roller track further includes a first cutout and a second cutout configured to receive the stop lens.
18. 18 . The merchandise system of claim 11 , wherein the roller track is configured to slidably engage the channel of the front rail.
19. 19 . The merchandise system of claim 18 , further comprising a first divider and a second divider, wherein the roller track is disposed between the first divider and the second divider.
20. 20 . The merchandise system of claim 11 , wherein the roller track includes a bearing element spaced apart from a catch to define a slot, the slot configured to selectively receive a portion of the front rail.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application 63/483,077, filed on Feb. 3, 2023. The disclosure of this prior application is considered part of the disclosure of this application and is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. FIELD The present disclosure relates generally to a selectively securable roller track for merchandise display systems. BACKGROUND This section provides background information related to the present disclosure and is not necessarily prior art. In self-service retail establishments, such as drug stores, grocery stores and the like, articles of merchandise are often displayed for sale on racks including one or more vertically spaced shelves. To ensure that product inventory is always front-facing and available for customers to retrieve from the shelves, retailers may implement various feed systems on the racks to bias inventory towards a front edge of a shelf. However, known feed systems are typically provided in fixed configurations and are not capable of being easily modified to accommodate different types or arrangements of merchandise on the shelf. Accordingly, there exists a need for a merchandising system that can be easily adapted by a retailer to feed merchandise to a front edge of a shelf. SUMMARY An aspect of the disclosure provides a merchandise system for a retail shelf including a front rail defining a channel extending along a first direction. The system includes a roller track configured to selectively engage the front rail and operable to translate along the front rail in the first direction, the roller track including a frame selectively engaged with the front rail and a plurality of rollers attached to the frame. Aspects of the disclosure may include one or more of the following optional features. In some examples, the roller track further includes a rail coupler configured to selectively engage with the front rail. Optionally, the rail coupler includes a front lip, a bearing element, and a catch, the front lip configured to selectively engage the front rail when the roller track is engaged with the front rail. In some implementations, the bearing element is spaced apart from the catch by a slot. In some configurations, the rail coupler includes a main body having an opening formed through a thickness of the main body along the slot. In some implementations, the system includes a stop lens configured to selectively engage the roller track. In some configurations, the roller track further includes a first cutout and a second cutout configured to receive the stop lens. In some implementations, the roller track is configured to slidably engage the channel of the front rail. In some examples, the system includes a first divider and a second divider, wherein the roller track is disposed between the first divider and the second divider. In some implementations, the roller track includes a bearing element spaced apart from a catch to define a slot, the slot configured to selectively receive a portion of the front rail. Another aspect of the disclosure provides a merchandise system for a retail shelf. The system includes a front rail defining a channel extending along a first direction and a roller track configured to slidably engage the front rail and operable to translate along the front rail in the first direction, the roller track including a frame selectively engaged with the front rail and a plurality of rollers attached to the frame. Aspects of the disclosure may include one or more of the following optional features. In some examples, the roller track further includes a rail coupler configured to selectively engage with the front rail. In some implementations, the rail coupler includes a front lip, a bearing element, and a catch, the front lip configured to selectively engage with the front rail when the roller track is engaged with the front rail. Optionally, the bearing element is spaced apart from the catch by a slot. In some examples, the rail coupler includes a main body having an opening formed through a thickness of the main body along the slot. In some implementations, the system includes a stop lens configured to selectively engage the roller track. Optionally, the roller track further includes a first cutout and a second cutout configured to receive the stop lens. In some examples, the roller track is configured to slidably engage the channel of the front rail. In some implementations, the system includes a first divider and a second divider, wherein the roller track is disposed between the first divider and the second divider. In some examples, the roller track includes a bearing element spaced apart from a catch to define a slot, the slot configured to selectively receive a portion of the front rail. This section provides a general summary of the disclosure, and is not a comprehensive disclosure of its full scope or all of its features. Further areas of applicabilit