An image display device includes an approach situation information acquirer that acquires approach situation information indicating approach of at least part of a customer's body to a shelf on which a plurality of items are displayed and indicating, when there is the approach, a position of the approach on the shelf at each time; an associator that associates the approach situation information with one item of the plurality of items according to the position indicated by the approach situation information; an index value calculator that calculates an index value relating to the customer's behavior on the basis of information indicating the item associated with the approach situation information; and a display unit that displays the index value calculated by the index value calculator together with an image of the item on the basis of the association made by the associator.

Information and passive biometric capture systems and methods. The information system includes a housing having a cavity configured to receive tangible items therein. A transparent, touch-sensitive display device is positioned over the cavity and configured such that in response to pixels of the display being black, the tangible items behind the black pixels are visible through the transparent display. A controller is programmed to receive from a remote server an alarm signal, and in response thereto, cause the display to change its state to indicate an alarm condition on the display. In response to receiving an input from the touch-sensitive display, a keypad is displayed, and inputs thereon are communicated to the remote server. The display can also display personal photographs stored in the memory device. A passive biometric capture system includes a chair with pressure-sensitive sensors embedded within areas contacted by a person sitting in the chair to form a unique passive biometric signature for each person and thereby differentiate among different people who sit in the same chair.

A method for reducing sweating in a temperature-controlled display device includes receiving values of an ambient temperature, a door frame temperature, and relative humidity. The method can also include estimating a value of a dewpoint temperature using the values of the ambient temperature and the relative humidity. The method can also include determining control decisions for a door frame heater of the temperature-controlled display device using the value of the dewpoint temperature and the door frame temperature, and transitioning the door frame heater between an on-state and an off-state using the control decisions to maintain the value of the door frame temperature at or above the value of the dewpoint temperature.

Provided is a refrigerator. The refrigerator is characterized by enabling at least a part of a refrigerator door to be selectively transparent by a user's operation, such that the user sees through an inside of the refrigerator while the refrigerator door is closed.

A security barrier apparatus includes an attachment portion structured to couple the security barrier apparatus to a display fixture, a support portion that couples to the attachment portion and a barrier portion pivotally coupled to the support portion. An input device coupled to the support portion, a control module coupled to one of the support portion and the attachment portion, and a locking assembly is in communication with the input device. The control module is structured to be in electrical communication with the input device and the locking assembly to signal the locking assembly to move to the unlocked state when an input is provided to the input device and further structured to signal the locking assembly to move to the locked state when the input ceases to be provided to the input device. When unlocked, the barrier portion is enabled to pivot between an open and closed position.

A modular shelving system includes a plurality of shelves, each shelf having a length and defining a first passage, a second passage, a first channel, and a second channel that each extend the full length of their respective shelf. The system also includes a plurality of bars, each bar defining a length and including a first bar opening at a first end and a second bar opening at a second end opposite the first end, and a plurality of connectors, each connector including at least two male portions, each male portion sized and shaped to be received in one of the first passage, the second passage, the first bar opening, and the second bar opening to interconnect each of the plurality of shelves and each of the plurality of bars.

An illuminable display assembly including (a) a housing having a base securable to a support surface, a platform detachably mounted to the base, and a generally enclosed interior bounded from above by the platform. The platform includes a plurality of illuminable windows spaced apart from each other therealong. The display assembly further includes (b) a plurality of retractable tethers mounted to the platform in the interior of the housing. The tethers fasten corresponding display containers to the platform and urge the display containers to predetermined positions adjacent corresponding windows. The display assembly further includes (c) a lighting system including one or more interior light sources in the interior of the housing for illuminating the windows and display containers from below.

A shelving system includes a shelving unit with at least one open sidewall that provides access to an interior of the shelving unit and one or more inserts that can be selectively connected to and disconnected from an interior of the unit in order to compartmentalize the interior of the unit. This enables a user to separate, sort and store items in the interior in an orderly fashion. The at least one open sidewall also serves to display the items stored in the unit. The shelving unit can be attached to a supporting wall in order to be located at desirable height to facilitate storage and display of the items stored therein.

A collapsible storage bin comprising a base, at least two sidewalls each rotatably coupled to the base, and at least one corner rail. Each of the at least two sidewalls rotates from a storage position within the base to a use position extending out of the base. Opposing ends of each of the at least two sidewalls is formed by a channel open toward the channel of the other of the first side end and the second side end top to define a first coupling flange as part of the first side end and a second coupling flange as part of the second side end. The at least one corner rail includes a first planar segment and a second planar segment coupled edge-to-edge to each other. Each of the first planar segment and the second planar segment terminates with a return to form a different elongated reception channel open toward the other of the first planar segment and the second planar segment. The at least one corner rail selectively and slidably receives the first coupling flange of a first one of the at least two sidewalls within the elongated reception channel of the first planar segment, and the at least one corner rail selectively and slidably receives the second coupling flange of a second one of the at least two sidewalls within the elongated reception channel of the second planar segment to hold the at least two sidewalls substantially perpendicular to one another.

Provided is a refrigerator. The refrigerator is characterized by enabling at least a part of a refrigerator door to be selectively transparent by a user's operation, such that the user sees through an inside of the refrigerator while the refrigerator door is closed.