AU2019101217A4 - A sign - Google Patents

Abstract

A sign 1 co-operable with a horizontal support 3. The sign comprises a presentation portion 7a, a clip arrangement 15 to clip the sign onto the support, 5 and mass arranged to cause the sign to hang from the support with the presentation portion facing obliquely downwards. /- 7,7a 9 7,7a 7,7a j FIGURE 3 1- 9 7, a

Description

A SIGN

FIELD

The present invention relates to signs and to systems and methods for labelling.

The invention will be described with reference to labelling pallet sites by way of example only. Variants of the technology may well be applied in other contexts.

BACKGROUND

Efficient warehouse operation requires organisation and clear labelling. Many warehouses have 'pallet sites', being regions of floorspace dedicated to pallets. Typically, the pallet sites are labelled so that the site can be uniquely identified.

The signage may also carry details identifying the cargo to be stored at that site.

One approach to labelling pallet sites entails painted markings on the floor.

Typically, the markings are placed in front of the pallet site so that they remain visible when a pallet is in situ. Such markings are not as durable as they might be, and updating the markings (e.g. when the layout of the warehouse is changed) is 15 expensive.

Another approach entails overhead signage, e.g. a cylindrical hanging bar may be suspended from the ceiling of the warehouse by a respective chain at each of its ends so that it sits horizontally above the pallet site. Signs can then be attached to the bar. Typically, the sign will take the form of laminated paper having a respective hole in each of its two top corners and fastened to the bar with the aid of cable ties or twist ties.

Such overhead signage offers a variety of advantages. Updating the signing is relatively straightforward - the cable ties or twist ties can be cut to replace the signage. Nonetheless, the present inventor has recognised that yet further improvements are possible.

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SUMMARY

One aspect of the invention provides a sign, co-operable with a horizontal support, cornprising a presentation portion;

a clip arrangement to clip the sign onto the support; and mass arranged to cause the sign to hang from the support with the presentation portion facing obliquely downwards.

Preferably the sign at least predominantly consists of an integral body of material.

A backup clip arrangement to hold on to the support when the clip arrangement is 10 dislodged from the support may be provided.

Another aspect of the invention provides a system, for labelling a site, comprising the sign and the support.

The support may be above head height and/or cylindrical.

Another aspect of the invention provides a method, of labelling a site, comprising 15 utilising the system.

The site may be a pallet location in a warehouse.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is a front perspective view of a sign on a hanging bar; and

Figures 2 to 4 are side views of the sign and the hanging bar.

Figure 5 is a rear perspective view of a sign and Figure 6 is a perspective view of a clip.

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DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

The sign 1 is configured to clip onto the hanging bar 3. The hanging bar 3 is a cylindrical rod suspended from the ceiling by a pair of chains 5.

The sign 1 predominantly consists of a single integral body of material. ’Integral’ and variants of that word are used herein in their conventional sense to refer to a single, continuous body of material. As the wording is used herein, components may be integrated by welding but not by conventional mechanical fastening.

The sign 1 is preferably formed of plastic, although other suitably resilient materials may be utilised. This example ofthe sign 1 has a uniform cross-section 10 along its horizontal length and as such may be advantageously formed by extrusion. Other manufacturing techniques such as injection moulding are also possible.

The sign 1 incorporates a planar front wall 7. In this example, the wall 7 is rectangular and about A3-sized. Other shapes and sizes are possible. The exterior 15 of the wail 7 is a presentation portion 7a. In this case, the portion 7a is a substantially planar face. Other forms of presentation portion are possible.

A back wall 9 (Figure 4) extends away from a top edge of the wall 7 at an acute angle to the wall 7, and terminates in a perpendicular flange 11 directed back towards the wall 7 whereby parts 7, 9 and 11 define an approximately triangular20 profiled elongate space 13.

A channel 15 runs along the wall 9 and opens to the space 13. The channel 15 has a neck through which the bar 3 can be pressed to clip the sign 1 onto the bar

3. Other clipping arrangements are possible. By way of example, instead of a continuous channel, a set of fingers may be spaced along the interior of the wall 9.

Indeed, a rudimentary variant of the sign 1 may do away with the components 9, and simply have the bar 3 clipping to the rear of the wall 7.

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The mass of the sign 1 is arranged so that the sign's centre of mass COM resides within the space 13 and so that the presentation portion 7a faces downwards at an angle a in the vicinity of 35° from horizontal when the clipping arrangement 15 is clipped onto the bar 3.

In this orientation, the sign 1 is conveniently located to clearly present the presentation surface 7a to a worker standing in front of the pallet site. This makes any information carried by the presentation surface 7a easier to read and/or scan with a barcode reader or other reading device. In particular, adverse reflections from overhead lighting, etc, are minimised.

Whilst this orientation of the sign 1 is advantageous for labelling pallet sites, other variants of the sign may hang at other orientations.

The information to be presented may be printed directly onto the presentation portion 7a. Indeed, it may be embossed on the presentation portion. In other variants, adhesive labels might be applied, or the presentation portion 7a may be 15 equipped with a transparent pocket into which non-adhesive labels may be placed.

Figures 2, 3 and 4 illustrate the fitment of the sign 1 to the bar 3. Starting with Figure 2, the sign 1 is held inverted in one hand whilst the bar 3 is gripped with the other hand. Pushing the sign 1 onto the bar 3 resiliency deforms the flange 11 to enable the space 13 to receive the bar 3. The bar 3 is thus trapped within the space 13. This entrapment holds the sign 1 on to the bar 3. As will be described, the parts 7, 9, 11 constitute a back-up clip arrangement by which the sign 1 is held on to the bar 3 even if the sign is inadvertently bumped so that the clip arrangement 15 disengages the bar 3. Other forms of back-up clip arrangement are possible, e.g. the flange 11 might be moved from the wall 9 to the wall 7 and/or replaced by one or more resilient fingers. Indeed, a separate carabiner might be utilised.

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From the position of Figure 3, the sign 1 can be manoeuvred to clip the channel 15 onto the bar 3. Subsequently, the sign 1 can be released. The sign then swings under its own weight to the orientation of Figure 4.

Figure 5 illustrates an alternate sign 100 comprising an integral body 101 and a pair of clips 103.

The body 101 has a front, panel 105 which, in this example, is substantially planar. The panel 105 is in the vicinity of 300mm x 400mm. Other sizes, shapes and configurations are possible.

The body 101 further comprises an oblique return flange 107 extending rearwardly 10 and downwardly from a top of the panel 105. There is an included angle in the vicinity of 35° between the panel 105 and the flange 107.

The body 101 may be formed by any convenient means, e.g. extrusion. Preferably this is formed from planar sheet stock (e.g. drawn from a roll) of suitable thermoplastic material that is blanked and folded. A metallic construction will also be convenient in some contexts.

The clips 103 sit on the interior of the flange 107. In this case each clip sits adjacent a respective end of the flanges long free edge. Each clip 103 is a respective integral body and has a substantially uniform profile defining a one way entrance 109 through which a suitable support, akin to the hanging bar 3, can enter, and thus be trapped in, an interior 111 of the clip 103. The clips 103 may be formed of any convenient means such as injection molding or extrusion.

The clips 103 are fastened to the body 101 by a suitable adhesive. Ultrasonic welding would be another convenient option.

The clips 103 are positioned on the flange 107 behind the presentation panel 105 25 rearwards and upwards from the centre of mass of the sign 100 whereby when the sign 100 is hanging from a horizontal support trapped within the interiors 111 the sign assumes an orientation at which the presentation face of the presentation

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2019101217 04 Oct 2019 panel 105 is directed obliquely downwards in a manner akin to the orientation illustrated in Figure 4.

The invention is not limited to the described examples. Rather, the invention is defined by the claims.

The term 'comprises' and its grammatical variants has a meaning that is determined by the context in which it appears. Accordingly, the term should not be interpreted exhaustively unless the context dictates so.

Claims (8)

1. A sign, co-operable with a horizontal support, comprising a presentation portion;

a clip arrangement to clip the sign onto the support; and

5 mass arranged to cause the sign to hang from the support, with the presentation portion facing obliquely downwards.

2. The sign of claim 1 at least predominantly consisting of an integral body of material.

3. The sign of claim 1 or 2 including a backup clip arrangement to hold on to 10 the support when the clip arrangement is dislodged from the support.

4. A system, for labelling a site, comprising the sign of claim 1,2 or 3; and the support.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the support, is above head height.

15

6. The system of claim 4 or 5 wherein the support is cylindrical.

7. A method, of labelling a site, comprising utilising the system of claim 4, 5 or 6.

8.

The method of claim 7 wherein the site is a pallet location in a warehouse.