AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION INNOVATION PATENT Applicant(S): MARTIN POLJANSEK JEFFERSON EARL Invention Title: AN INTERCHANGEABLE DISPLAY DEVICE The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the inventions usefulness and the best method of performing it known to us: - 2 AN INTERCHANGEABLE DISPLAY DEVICE This invention relates to a method of displaying signage that is vertical and at right angles to a range of plastic ticket strip extrusion profiles, commonly used on 5 the front regions of retail shelving. This invention allows people to view display signage that is positioned at right angles to the direction of its ticket strip support attachment and other substrates. Thus, signage and promotional materials continually remain in direct view of approaching people who are walking down shelving isles, 10 corridors and any other suitable areas. Currently the majority of ticket strip retail signage can only be viewed when a person is standing directly front-on to a shelf. The present invention can assist in attracting people with right angled 15 complementary signage. According to the present invention there is provided a single plastic moulded interchangeable display device which includes: 20 a first portion able to fit and display interchangeable signage vertically and at right angles to the second portion; and a second portion for clipping and sliding the device onto a range of plastic ticket strip extrusion profiles, 25 wherein the first portion's tag holding mechanism is vertically orientated in relation to the ground with four fully enclosed internal walls, comprising two horizontally opposing tapered surfaces with two vertically opposing convex and flat side walls, to hold interchangeable signage by means of accepting a small 30 tapered rectangular signage tab region, wherein the second portion has a tapered clip, which can press firmly into and over a range of ticket strip extrusion profiles, and assistively attach with the aid of an upper holding step and a removed rectangular rear wall configuration. An upper holding step is provided 35 to help prevent dislodgement of the device from the ticket strip upper lip. This invention relates to an interchangeable display device that can be attached to plastic ticket strip - 3 extrusion profiles preferably by way of a clip mechanism. However, it is also possible that the second portion can attach to other surfaces by means of additional magnetic 5 or adhesive backings. A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 10 Figure 1 shows a side view of the interchangeable display device. Figure 2 shows the front view of the interchangeable display device. 15 Figure 3 shows a 3-dimensional drawing of the interchangeable display device. Figure 4 shows an example of a typical cross sectional plastic ticket strip extrusion, that the 20 invention's rear-attachment clip is designed to attach onto. Figure 5 shows a side view of the interchangeable display device clipped on and into a ticket strip's front flap. 25 Figure 6 shows a 3-dimensional view of the interchangeable display device attached onto a ticket strip profile. Figure 7 shows a side view of the interchangeable 30 display device clipped onto a ticket strip, with a display tag shown on the right hand side. Figure 8 shows the side view of the interchangeable display device with the display tag firmly pressed into the devices tag holding mechanism. 35 Figure 9 shows a 3-dimensional drawing of the device attached to a ticket strip, with a display tag firmly attached inside the devices tag holding mechanism.
- 4 Figure 10 shows a top view of the device attached onto a ticket strip extrusion with a display tag held inside the devices tag holding mechanism. 5 Figure 11 depicts a front view of the interchangeable display device when attached to a ticket strip, with a display tag pressed inside the devices tag holding mechanism. 10 Figure 12 shows a rear view 3-dimensional drawing of the interchangeable display device. Figure 13 shows numerous interchangeable display devices attached to ticket strip profiles as an example of how this invention is to be useful in a typical shelving isle. 15 Figure 14 illustrates an example where the interchangeable display device can be attached to surfaces other than ticket strip, such as a door as shown. 20 As can be seen in the Figures, the interchangeable display device incorporates a first portion in the form of a tag holding mechanism 1, and a second portion in the form of a clip 13. The rear attachment clip 13 is vertically orientated 25 and tapered with a lengthened rear portion 2 so as to more easily provide the initial means of attachment when pressed inside a ticket strip opening 16 (refer to Figure 5). Figure 12 best illustrates the rear view of the 30 attachment clip 2 showing a rectangular removed section 10 in the middle region, which allows increased flexibility in the rear attachment clip and provides even displacement of holding forces by directing them to both sides of the rear clip while reducing forces in the middle. This prevents the clip from rocking and allows for a firmer 35 more even attachment. A small bridging section 24 has been included, so as to help both sides of the removed rectangular sections rear attachment clip to slot together into and over the front flap 17 without misalignment (refer to Figure 4).
- 5 The rear attachment clip 2, works in conjunction with an angular internal ridge 3, so as to provide a parallel and vertically opposing frictional force sufficient in strength to securely attach the device 1 onto the ticket 5 strips front flap 17. The slot 4 is designed to fit over a range of plastic ticket strip extrusion profiles. Figure 2 more clearly illustrates the front view of the tag holding mechanism. As can be seen there is a single convex internal vertically aligned side wall 14. 10 This convex wall 14 is to provide an interference fitment slot to an interchangeable display tag by means of adequate laterally opposing side forces so as to keep the display tags securely within the tag holding mechanism. Also note that the width of the rear attachment clip 13 is wide enough to provide adequate means of attachment. Also 15 note that the tag holding mechanism 1 (see Figure 1) is slender and compact. Best seen in Figure 5 is a small holding step 5, which is included in the upper region of the rear 20 attachment clip 2 to help prevent the device from dislodgement from the ticket strip by interfering with the upper lip portion 15 of the ticket strip. The invention has a vertically orientated display tag holding mechanism 1 which consists of twin internal, 25 horizontally opposing tapered surfaces 8 for the upper and lower internal slot walls. The area depicted by the convex internal surface area around the front middle region 9 of the tag holding mechanism, will provide sufficient twin laterally opposing surface areas to help prevent the display tag from dislodgment. It is preferred that the 30 display tag holding slot 14 has four enclosed internal walls in order to maximally assist in containing the display tag 21. The invention is shown to have an optional piece of rectangular side wall 7 removed, in order to accommodate a screw head or pointed threaded end so that the screw remains contained within the devices external walls 9. The screw hole 11 is provided in a direction that is perpendicular to the vertically orientated tag holding mechanism, so that it will be positioned to penetrate - 6 through and secure a display tag if required. The screw hole 11 is preferably positioned in a central position to allow for maximum rigidity. The provision for a screw is meant as an option to assist with and not as the primary 5 means by which to secure the interchangeable display tags. The front end 12 of the inventions holding mechanism is to be of compatible opening height to be able to accept and firmly locate a tapered rectangular attachment tab 20, when it is pressed firmly into the convex slot 14. 10 Figures 10 and 11 depicts the overall design of the invention and how the device is useful in displaying signage tags vertically and at right angles in relation to the rear ticket strip attachment surface of the clip 13. 15 A typical cross sectional representation of a ticket strip profile 15 can be seen in Figure 4. Many variations of ticket strip extrusion profiles commonly exist in retail merchandising shelving, and the invention's rear attachment clip 13 has been designed to attach to a wide 20 variety of existing ticket strip profiles. In Figure 5 and 6, a small holding step 5 helps prevent the device from dislodgement from the ticket strip profile. Also note how the angled internal ridge 3 aids in gripping and providing a horizontally opposing force to 25 grip the ticket strip front flap 17 in conjunction with the rear clip 2. The rear attachment clip 2 is designed to a specific length which allows the device to be compatibly secured within a range of common ticket strip extrusions. The inventions rear clip design also allows it to be easily slidable along a front flap 17 section of ticket 30 strip, without need for detachment. As can be seen in Figure 7, the display tag 21 has a smaller rectangular holding tab 20, with a certain height 19 to compliment and fit firmly into the interchangeable display device's holding mechanisms slot opening 14. The small rectangular display tab 20 may be manufactured with tapered sides, to complement the interchangeable display device's twin internal tapered holding surfaces 8. Please note that while the display tag 21 is depicted as a rectangular shape, the final display tags may encompass any shape or size as long as there is provision for a - 7 smaller rectangular holding tab 20 of correct size to fit tightly into the convex interference slot 14. The display tags 21 themselves are to be preferably 5 manufactured from flexible polypropylene, acrylic, or other plastic or paper based materials. As can be seen in Figure 8, the display tag 21 is shown pressed inside the interchangeable device's tag holding mechanism by two tapered vertically opposing upper 10 and lower side wall surfaces 8, as well as internal vertically orientated convex 14 and flat side walls 14, shown by area 9 and in the internal region surrounding the display tab 20. Also note in Figure 5 that the interchangeable 15 display tags are to press into and against the internal slot base 6. As can be seen in Figure 8, an advantage of our invention is that the interchangeable display device' s 20 side profile is compact and not too protrusive when attached onto a ticket strip extrusion 15. In addition, while the invention is designed to be manufactured from rigid moulded plastic, the display tags 21 are preferred to be manufactured from flexible materials and should bend when a person comes into close contact. Therefore, this 25 invention is designed to be compact and light weight with minimum protrusion from its rear shelf attachment surface. As is seen in Figure 11 and of importance is how the single convex internal side wall 14 functions to provide a laterally opposing force to press against the display tag 30 21. The preferred embodiment of this internal slot consists of a single convex internal wall, however the device's holding mechanism may be manufactured to incorporate twin convex internal walls. Side clearances at the top and bottom of this slot 14 allows for the tags to locate easily into the inventions holding slot mechanism, 35 to allow for easy and quick changeover of display tags. Figure 13 illustrates how this invention will look like when numerous devices are attached to ticket strip profiles as seen in a typical retail shelving isle. This invention will be useful in allowing people to clearly - 8 view display signage material 21 when people are walking down an isle, corridor or walled area, while allowing promotional/signage materials to be remain continually in direct view of approaching people. 5 Figure 14 illustrates how the interchangeable display device can be attached to substrates other than ticket strip, when suitable adhesive or magnetic backing is glued on to the rear attachment clip 2. The devices design therefore allows a much broader application for displaying signage in areas other than just the retail shelving 10 sector. Doors, corridors and any other suitable flat attachment surface can also be utilised to support the interchangeable display device. This invention will fully exploit an under utilised display viewing angle to very effectively attract people to particular products or other informative signage. 15 This invention is innovative as it will be able to be mounted to a range of ticket strip extrusions, while displaying right angled shelf signage, with the ability to easily changeover signage display material. Therefore this invention has the potential in being easily adopted into 20 the retail merchandising shelving sector by providing a better means of attracting customers to products. The present invention is fully removable from the ticket strip attachment flap surfaces. The device can also be attached onto a ticket strip, while allowing only the 25 display signage to be interchanged. Therefore, this invention allows for re-use, in that only the display tags are interchanged or thrown away. This invention consists of a simple one piece, plastic moulded construction and unlike other signage 30 display holding devices there is no need to open any associated removable covers or panels. This device will only accept display tags which have an incorporated rectangular holding tab manufactured to dimensions which are compatible to the internal area of 35 the display tag holding mechanism. The rear attachment clip has been tapered allowing the device to be pressed down towards the base of ticket strip 18, thus limiting splaying and increasing the - 9 lifespan of the associated ticket strip and limiting 5 interference to other flat pricing strips in near proximity. Additional clip insertion tools are not required to attach the interchangeable display device to ticket strip profiles due to the extended tapered rear attachment clip 10 2, which can easily be slotted into and over the ticket strips front flap 17 by hand.