AU2004100720A4 - A label holder - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE

SPECIFICATION

INNOVATION

PATENT

Invention Title: A LABEL HOLDER Applicant: INNOVATION CENTRAL PTY LTD The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: -2- A LABEL HOLDER Field of Invention The present invention relates to a label holder. In a typical application, the label holder may be used to hold labels for visually communicating information. Such labels may include point of sale labels including photos, product identification tags, price tags, and the like, for indoor or outdoor display.

Background of the Invention Various types of label holders are available. One type of label holder is a simple folded label holder having two planar surfaces which are flexibly connected so as to permit a label to be received between the surfaces.

Typically, label holders of this type include sides which are spaced apart.

Hence, whilst label holders of this type are inexpensive, they do not provide effective protection for the label, particularly from moisture damage, and are thus unsuitable for outdoor use.

A more complex type of label holder is an envelope type holder having a sleeve section for receiving the label. A label may be inserted into these types of label holders through an opening at one end of the sleeve. Depending upon the particular design of the label holder, a lid may be fixable to the opening so as to provide an enclosed region for containing the label within the sleeve, thus providing improved moisture protection.

Generally speaking, envelope type label holders are either of a rigid construction or a flexible construction. Where the label holder is of a rigid construction, the surfaces that are used to support the label are themselves rigid and arranged so as to face one another with a small gap between them for receiving the label. Unfortunately, the small size of the gap renders the inside of the label holder somewhat difficult to clean.

-3- Flexible envelope type label holders are, on the other hand, easier to clean since the opposite surfaces may be separated by flexing, or otherwise deforming, the surfaces so as to provide sufficient clearance, and thus access, for cleaning. However, flexible envelope type label holders are not self supporting and require a supporting member to provide mechanical support.

Another more complicated type of label holder is a label holder having hinged planar surfaces. Label holders of this type typically require additional features (or components) for holding the planar surfaces together in a closed position.

The additional features may include tongues which project from each planar surface and are arranged for receiving a fastener (such as a screw) which is able to clamp the tongues together and thus hold the planar surfaces together.

Of course, the inclusion of such additional features increases the complexity of the label holder by increasing the parts count or, indeed, the complexity of the equipment (for examples, moulds) used to manufacture the label holder.

Moreover, in cases where the label holder is to be used in an outdoor environment where the label holder may be exposed to moisture, these types of label holders may need to be enclosed in a separate protective cover (such as a plastic bag), or sealed with a sealing agent (such as silicon based adhesive) so as to provide protection against moisture penetration.

Summary of the Invention The present invention seeks to provide an improved label holder having a label holding region that is normally protected against moisture penetration and that is of a relatively simple construction.

The present invention provides a label holder including: a first cover having a first sealing means, the first sealing means forming a periphery around an area of the first cover; -4a second cover having a second sealing means, the second sealing means forming a periphery around an area of the second cover; a hinge means for hingedly connecting the first cover to the second cover, the hinge means being arranged to allow a sealed engagement to be formed between the first sealing means and the second sealing means; wherein the sealed engagement of the first sealing means and the second sealing means holds the first cover and the second cover together so that a label holding region is provided between the first cover's area and the second cover's area and wherein the sealed engagement normally protects the label holding region from moisture penetration thereinto.

Advantageously, the sealed engagement of the first sealing means and the second sealing means tends to reduce the susceptibility of the label holder to moisture penetration (such as by water ingress), whilst at the same time holding the first cover and the second cover together without the need to employ additional securing means.

The holder may be constructed as a unitary member and so obviate the need to include a separate seal member, such as a rubber-like seal. Advantageously, such a construction may improve the manufacturability of the label holder. In one embodiment, the label holder may be manufactured using a mouldable clear material (for example, polypropylene) by way of a suitable manufacturing process, such as injection moulding.

The first sealing means may include a receiving region which is arranged to receive the second sealing means so as to form the sealed engagement. In one embodiment, the receiving region may be resilient. In this form of the invention, the receiving of the second sealing means may involve spreading apart, or otherwise deforming, the receiving region so as to receive the second sealing means and thus form the sealed engagement.

The receiving region may be formed as a continuous channel in the first cover.

Alternatively, the receiving region may be a continuous protrusion which is shaped to receive the second sealing means.

The receiving region may include a guiding surface for directing the second sealing means into sealed engagement with an engaging surface of the receiving region so as to hold the first cover and the second cover together.

The direction of the second sealing means into sealed engagement with an engaging surface of the receiving region may involve the second sealing means being deflected by the guiding surface, or the guiding surface being deflected by the second sealing means, or a combination of both.

In a form of the invention where the receiving region is a continuous channel, the channel may include oppositely arranged walls having a connecting portion therebetween. The connecting portion may have a surface that defines the depth of the channel. In this form of the invention, one of the walls may extend from the first cover's area. Preferably, each, or either of, the walls includes a respective guiding surface and a respective engaging surface.

The second sealing means may include a rim that projects outwardly relative to the second cover's area. In one form of the invention, the rim may be flared so as to project outwardly. In yet another from of the invention, the rim may be slanted relative to the second cover's area to thereby project outwardly.

In one embodiment, the second sealing means may be resilient so that the rim is able to be deflected by the receiving region during engagement. Indeed, the engagement may involve the rim being be deflected by the guiding surface (or surfaces) of the receiving region during engagement and then bearing against the engaging surface (or surfaces) of the receiving region when in sealed engagement. Thus, the second sealing means may include a bearing surface for bearing against a wall of the receiving region to thereby form the sealed -6engagement. The bearing surface may be an inside surface or an outside surface of the second sealing means.

In another form of the invention, in which the receiving region is resilient, the engagement may involve the receiving region being deflected by the rim as it is engaged and then the engaging surface bearing against the rim to thereby form the sealed engagement.

In yet another form of the invention, in which both the rim and the receiving region are resilient, the engagement may involve both the rim and the receiving region being deflected during engagement and then bearing against each other to form the sealed engagement.

In an embodiment where the first sealing means and/or the second sealing means is resilient, the forming of a sealed engagement that involves at least one of the first or second sealing means being deflected by, and then bearing against, the other sealing means so as to thereby form the sealed engagement will be referred to as a resilient engagement. Thus, according to some embodiments, the first and second sealing means will be resiliently engageable.

In a preferred form of the invention, during engagement of the first sealing means and the second sealing means, the guiding surface directs the second sealing means into sealed engagement with the engaging surface of the second sealing means so as to hold the first cover and the second cover together.

The hinge means may be a double hinge having any suitable form. One suitable form may include a double hinge having a first hinge member which is connected to the first cover, a second hinge member which is connected to the second cover and a spine which connects the first hinge member to the second hinge member. In one form of the invention the first hinge member and the second hinge member extend from respective covers so that the spine is spaced apart from an edge of the covers by an amount which allows the first sealing means to engage with the second sealing means.

The double hinge may be a flat double hinge, or alternatively, it may be contoured. One example of a contoured double hinge may include a double hinge having a cross section which varies along the length of the double hinge so as to provide a double hinge having improved stiffness characteristics as compared to a flat double hinge.

Either, or each of, the first cover and the second cover may include a flange for providing a frame about a respective sealing means. In one form of the invention, a flange is provided on both the first cover and the second cover such that the respective flanges are parallel. In this form, the flanges may be spaced apart so as to allow a user to grip the flanges for separating the first and second cover's from sealed engagement.

The flange of one, or both, of the covers may include an integrally formed connector means for connecting with a separate connecting part. In one form of the invention, the integrally formed connecting means may be a projection which spans along an edge of a flange.

The connecting part may be a module which is slidably connectable with the projection means, and thus the flange. Hence, in this form of the invention, the projection means may include a stop means located at one end thereof so as abut with a portion of connecting part when the projection part and the connecting part are fully slidably engaged.

The connection of the connecting part with the label holder may lock the covers together when sealably engaged. In this respect, the connecting part may also include means for connecting the connecting member to another object, such as a support (for example, a stand). Alternatively, the connecting part may include means for connecting a first label holder to a second label holder so as -8to form a connection therebetween. In yet another form of the invention, the connecting part may provide a base which is able to support the label holder.

An advantage of the present invention is that the sealed engagement of the first cover and the second cover tends to reduce the susceptibility of the label holder to moisture penetration, and thus normally protect the label holding region from moisture penetration thereinto. In this respect, reference to the term "normally protect" throughout this specification is to be understood to be reference to protection of the type that prevents moisture ingress into the label holding region as a result of the label holder being exposed to rain, spray, splashing, mist or the like.

Another advantage of the present invention is that the sealed engagement serves to hold the first and second covers together and thus obviates the need for additional components. Accordingly, the label holder is readily manufacturable.

Description of the Drawings The present invention will now be described in relation to various embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings. However, it must be appreciated that the following description is not to limit the generality of the above description.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a label holder according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the label holder shown in an open state; Figure 2 is a plan view of a label holder of Figure 1 shown again in an open state; -9- Figure 3 is a plan view of the label holder of Figure 1 shown with the first cover and the second cover in sealed engagement; Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along B-B showing the sealed engagement of the first cover and the second cover; Figure 5 is a partial sectional view of a portion of the first cover and the section cover in an open state; Figure 6 is a partial sectional view taken of the same portion of Figure 5 but showing the first sealing means and the second sealing just engaging; Figure 7 is a partial sectional view of a portion of the first cover and the section cover in sealed engagement; Figure 8 is a front plan view showing the label holder of Figure 1 with a connecting means in the form of a base; Figure 9 is a side view showing the label holder of Figure 8; and Figure 10 is an enlarged sectional view of the connection between the base and the label holder shown in Figure 9.

Detailed Description of a Preferred Embodiment Figures 1 to 7 show a label holder 10 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. As is shown in Figure 1, the label holder 10 includes a first cover 12, a second cover 14, and a hinge means 16 for hingedly connecting the first cover 12 to the second cover 14.

The first cover 12 includes a first sealing means 18 which forms a periphery around an area 22 of the first cover 12. Similarly, the second cover 14 includes a second sealing means 24 which forms a periphery 26 around an area 28 of the second cover 14.

In the present case, the hinge means 16 is a double hinge 30 arranged so that a sealed engagement is able to be formed between the first cover's sealing means 18 and the second cover's sealing means 24. As is shown in Figure 4, the arrangement of the double hinge 30 includes a first hinge member 32 which is connected to the first cover 12, a second hinge member 34 which is connected to the second cover 14 and a spine 36 which connects the first hinge member 32 to the second hinge member 34.

Advantageously, the sealed engagement of the first cover's sealing means 18 and the second cover's sealing means 24 serves to hold the first cover 12 and the second cover 14 together. Indeed, as is shown in Figure 4, the sealed engagement of the first cover's sealing means 18 and the second cover's sealing means 24 provides a label holding region 38 between the first cover's area 22 and the second cover's area 28. In one embodiment, the label holding region 38 has a size which is suitable for holding labels such as printed A4 sheets.

In Figures 1 to 7, the first cover's sealing means 18 is shown as a receiving region 40 which is arranged to receive the second sealing means (shown here as a rim 42) so as to form the sealed engagement. As is shown in Figure 4, the illustrated receiving region 40 has been formed as a continuous channel 44 in the first cover 12. However, it will be appreciated that other forms of receiving region 40 may be used.

As is shown in Figure 5, in the embodiment illustrated the continuous channel 44 has oppositely arranged walls 45, 46 with a connecting portion 48 having a surface 50 which defines the depth of the channel 44. In the embodiment illustrated, the wall 45 extends from the first cover's area 22 so as to be inclined relatively thereto.

11 In the illustrated embodiment, the wall 46 includes a guiding surface 52 and an engaging surface 54. In use, the guiding surface 52 directs the second sealing means 24 into engagement with the first sealing means 18. The engaging surface 54 shown here is shaped so as to engage with a complementary shaped portion of the second sealing means 24.

Referring again to Figure 1, the second sealing means 24 is shown as a rim 42 which projects outwardly relative to the second cover's area 28. In the embodiment illustrated, the rim 42 is resilient. However, it will be appreciated that the receiving region 40 may be resilient. Indeed, in other embodiments, both the receiving region 40 and the rim 42 may be resilient. As is shown in Figures 4 to 7, the illustrated rim 42 has an shape that flares outwardly relative to second cover's area 28.

As is shown in Figures 5 to 7, in the illustrated embodiment the flared shape and resiliency of the rim 42 permits it to be deflected by the guiding surface 52 during engagement (ref. Fig. 6) and then bear against the engaging surface 54 when it is in sealed engagement (ref. Fig. Thus, during engagement of the first sealing means 18 and the second sealing means 24, the guiding surface 52 directs the second sealing means 24 into sealed engagement with the engaging surface 54 of the first sealing means 18 (in this case the receiving region 40) so as to thereby hold the first cover 12 and the second cover together 14. Indeed, as is shown in Figure 7, when the first sealing means 18 and the second sealing means 24 are sealably engaged, a bearing surface 56 of the rim 42 bears against a corresponding wall of the receiving region 40 so as to hold the first cover 12 and the second cover 14 together.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 to 7, both the first cover 12 and the second cover 14 include a respective flange 58 for providing a frame about a respective sealing means 18, 24. Indeed, and as is shown in Figure 3, in the preferred embodiment each flange 58 includes three integrally formed -12connector means 60 located on different edges of a respective flange 58 for connecting with a separate connecting part. Referring to Fig.1, the integrally formed connecting means 60 is shown as a projection 62 which spans along a respective edge each flange 58.

Turning to Figures 8 to 10, there is shown a connecting part 64 which has been connected to a label holder 10. The connecting part 64 shown here provides a base which is able to support the label holder.

Referring now to Figure 10, the connection part 64 may include any suitable arrangement for connecting to the label holder 10. In the present case, the connecting part 64 is a module having guides 66 which slidably connects with respective projections 62, and thus the flanges 58. As is shown in Figure 3, the projection 62 includes a stop means 68 located at one end thereof for abutting against a portion of connecting part when the projection and the connecting part are fully slidably engaged.

It is envisaged that the preferred embodiment of the invention will be particularly suitable for holding labels for display in an outdoor environment. Indeed, in the preferred embodiment of the invention the double hinge biases the sealed engagement so as to improve the integrity of the sealed engagement and thus further reduces the susceptibility of the label holder to moisture penetration.

Accordingly, the label holder of the preferred embodiment of the present invention is well suited for outdoor use where the label holder may be exposed to rain or water spray. Moreover, because the preferred embodiment of the invention is a unitary member having covers which are hingedly connected, the preferred embodiment of the label holder is easy to load and clean.

Finally, it will be understood that there may be other variations and modifications to the configurations described herein that are also within the scope of the present invention.

Claims (4)

1. A label holder, the holder including: a first cover having a first sealing means, the first sealing means forming a periphery around an area of the first cover; a second cover having a second sealing means, the second sealing means forming a periphery around an area of the second cover; and a hinge means for hingedly connecting the first cover to the second cover, the hinge means being arranged to allow a sealed engagement to be formed between the first sealing means and the second sealing means; wherein the sealed engagement of the first sealing means and the second sealing means holds the first and second covers together so that a label holding region is provided between the first cover's area and the second cover's area and wherein the sealed engagement normally protects the label holding region from moisture penetration thereinto.

2. A label holder according to claim 1, wherein the first sealing means and/or the second sealing means are resilient so that the first sealing means and the second sealing means are resiliently engageable so as to thereby hold the first and second covers together.

3. A label holder according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first cover and the second cover each include a flange, the flanges being arranged so that when the sealed engagement is formed between the first sealing means and the second sealing means, a connector part is slidably connectable to the flanges to thereby lock the first and second covers together.

4. A label holder according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the hinge means includes a double hinge having a first hinge member, a second hinge member, and a spine for connecting the first hinge member to the second hinge member, wherein the first hinge member and the second hinge member are connected to the first and second cover respectively, and wherein the spine is -14- spaced apart from an edge of each of the first and second covers so as to allow the first sealing means to sealably engage with the second sealing means. A label holder according to claim 1, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. DATED: 31 August 2004 PHILLIPS ORMONDE FITZPATRICK Attorneys for INNOVATION CENTRAL PTY LTD