AU616346B2

AU616346B2 - Label mounting device

Info

Publication number: AU616346B2
Application number: AU52911/90A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Andrew Eason; Russell Slobodiuk; John Richard Wall
Original assignee: Norwood Ind Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Norwood Ind Pty Ltd
Priority date: 1989-04-13
Filing date: 1990-04-03
Publication date: 1991-10-24
Anticipated expiration: 2010-04-03
Also published as: AU5291190A

Description

CO: M M 0 N W E A L T 1iI O A S RA I OF A U S T R A L I A PATENTS ACT 1952 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION (original) FOR OFFICE USE 1634 Class Int. Class Application Number: Lodged: Complete Specification Lodged: Accepted: Published: 0 0 0 0 o P i o i y Related Art: 00 AoJ L t~C S \1si I -t MU.

,t0J.fl0ShtJ.~0fl~ Name of Applicdnt: 0000 0 0 0 0 Address of Applicant: 000 4AILS- I 4n-r.--r-ee-s- -Pe--r--Rea -s) 1- -SBYROGH(Qi (sec. D.o 0 Actual Inventor(s): Address for Service: DAVIES COLLISON, Patent Attorneys, 1 Little Collins Street, Melbourne, 3000.

Complete specification for the invention entitled: "LABEL MOUNTING DEVICE" The following statement ts a full description of this invention, including the best method of performin4. it known to us 4f Ja- "LABEL MOUNTING DEVICE" 2 3 4 6 7 8 9 10 o 0 a 14 0.0 0 15 16 17 18 19 21 22 23 24 A 0 25 26 27 28 29 31 32 33 34 36 37 38 This invention relates to a device for mounlting labels to a structure.

Labels of the type with which the label mounting device of the present invention are suitable for use comprise a label body having opposed end portions with a longitudinal axis extending therebetween and a head at one of the end portions of the label body. The head includes at least one part which projects laterally with respect to the longitudinal axis of the label body and defines a lateral shoulder.

Preferably the label further includes a neck of reduced width relative to the label body and head, the neck being interposed between the label body and head. Preferably the head comprises two laterally projecting parts which extend to respective opposite sides of the longitudinal axis of the label body 'h reby forming two lateral shoulders.

Furthermore, the head preferably tapers inwardly towards its free end so to form a leading edge of reduced dimension.

The label is preferably formed from substantially flat card or strip and maybe deformable at least to a certain extent in a substantially resilient matter. Any suitable materials may be used in the formation of the label such as cardboard or plastics material.

The structure to which the label mounting device of the present invention may be securable or be formed integral with may take any suitable form. In one particular application of the label mounting device of the present invention it is for use with structures, for example, in the form of containers for plants and seedlings such as punnets, plant pots and the like. It will be appreciated however, that the label mounting device may be securable to or formed integral with other forms of structures such as for example, shelving.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved label mounting device which can support a label and inhibit dislodgement of the label therefrom.

1 3 Il; ti 1j4 Ilyl V~i 900226,araspe.027, lab.mount, According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a label mounting device adapted to hold a suitably configured label in a retention position, said label being of elongate form and having a body, a head, a neck joining the head to the body, and at least one shoulder on said head proximate said neck facing towards said body, said label mounting device including a first side wall and a second side wall, said side walls each lying in a respective plane, the two planes being substantially parallel and spaced apart and defining a control zone therebetween with an entrance opening to and an exit opening from the control zone, and stop means extending from the first side wall towards the secc-nd side wall across said control zone, said stop means being S configured to allow the head of a label to pass through said a control zone from said entrance opening to said exit opening into said retention position in which said shoulder is past said stop means, said stop means being adapted to engage with the shoulder when the label is in said retention position to thereby restrict removal of the label from the mounting device.

According to a second aspect of the invention there S is provided a label comprising an elongate sheet of resiliently flexible material, said sheet having a body, a head, and a neck joining the body to the head, a pair of shoulders being formed on the head on opposite sides thereof proximate the neck, said shoulders facing towards said body, the length of said neck being such that said head can be operatively passed through a said control zone such that at least one of said shoulders can locate behind said stop means to lock said label in said mounting device.

The arrangement is such that in use, the label is passed head first through the control zone via the entrance opening to the exit opening so as to adopt the retention position. In the control zone, the head of the label is preferably urged towards the first side wall by a guide means. The head of the label passes out of the control zone via the exit opening so as to adopt the retention position in which a lateral shoulder or shoulders on the head of the label locate behind the stop or stops thereby inhibiting retraction of the label back through the control zone. Preferably the head of the label is formed of a material which permits it to -2- /NT 0~ deform in a generally resili.ent manner as it moves through the control zone into the retention position.

Preferably the stop or stops extend from the second side wall towards the first side wall and terminates just short thereof. In one preferred form of the invention, two stops are provided, these being spaced apart in the lateral direction with respect to an axis extending between the entrance and exit openings, the space between these stops forming a zone for receiving the neck of the head of the label when the label is in the retention position. Preferably the or each stop has an inclined edge or surface which extends at S an angle from the side wall in the direction of the aforementioned axis thereby forming a ramp upon which the lateral projecting sections of the head of the label can track S as the label passes through the control zone. Preferably the inclined edge or surface commences a' a position intermediate 8~ between the entrance and exit openings and terminates at the exit opening.

Preferably the guide means comprises an inclined raip which extends from the second side wall, the ramp being 0° inclined inwardll into the control zone in the direction of oo~o 0, the aforementioned axis. Preferably the ramp is comprised by one or more upstanding ribs which in the preferred form are .o disposed in a region between the two spaced apart stops.

Preferably the ramp commences at the entrance opening and terminates at the exit opening. It is further desirable that 0 the edges of the stops and the ramp at the exit opening slightly overlap.

Preferred embodiments of the invention -ill hereinafter be described with reference to the accompanying I drawings and in those drawings: Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a label suitable for use with the mounting device of the present invention; Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view of a structure to which the label mounting device can be secured to or formed integral with; Figure 3 is a schematic perspective view of one form of label mounting device according to the present invention; kALr/\ Figure 4 is a schematic view of a label mounting

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rclt ri~---uC~ device according to the present invention mounted to the internal side of a plant pot; Figure 5 is a similar view to that of Figure 4 with the label mounting device being on the external side of the plant pot; and Figure 6 is a schematic perspective view of another form of label mounting device according to the invention.

Referring to the drawings and in particular Figure i, the label 40 with which the mounting device of the present invention is suitable for use comprises a label body 41 having a neck section 42 and a resiliently deformable head 43 having laterally extending protrusions forming shoulders 44. The head 43 has a tapered free end portion 45 forming a leading S edge 46 of reduced dimension.

The label mounting device 1 can be either secured in S a releasable manner to a structure or formed integral therewith so that it forms part of the structure. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the structure in the particular form shown comprises a pujnet 50 for plants and seedlings and includes four label mounting devices i. In the form shown in Figures 4 and 5 the structure comprises a pot As best seen in Figures 3 to 6, the label mounting device comprises a first sidewall 7 and a second side wall 6 interconnected by end walls 12 thereby forming a control zone 13 having an entrance opening 10 and an exit opening 11.

As will be noted, one of the side walls 6 or 7 can at least in part be defined by a part of the wall of the ~structure to which it is secured or formed integral with. The article which forms the structure may be in the form of a moulded plastics article and the mounting device may form an integral part of that moulding.

As shown, two stops 15 are provided, the stops being formed by two spaced apart protusions 16 and 17 extending into the control zone 13, each stop having a tapered edge surface 18 which terminates at the exit opening 11. The stops 15 are preferably formed integral with the first side wall 7 and project towards the second side wall 6 across the control zone 13.

In the embodiment of Figure 3, the stops are '-ALN relatively wide block-like bodies having a shoulder portion 4 i i 1 i; i i; i 'i~l i~9i :Ijd~ fi:_i which engages the shoulders 44 on the label which in the retention position. In the embodiment of Figure 6 the stops 16 and 17 are in the form of triangular shaped ribs which are relatively thin with regard to the stops shown in Figure i.

As can be seen, the leading portion of each stop commences below the entrance opening 10 of the control zone 13 and the stops terminate adjacent the exit opening 11.

The label mounting device 1 preferably further includes a guide 20 in the form of a pair of ramps 21 defined by ribs 22, the ribs 22 being inclined and extending between the entrance opening and the exit opening. The ribs 22 are preferably formed integral with the second side wall 6 and project towards the first wide wall 7 across the control zone o S 13.

The innermost section of the guides overlaps with the S innermost section of the stops across the control zone 13.

This ensures that when a label 40 is inserted into the control zone 13 the label material is caused to resiliently flex on account of the label having to move past the overlapping stops and guide o a To mount the label in the mounting device, the head S- 43 of the label is presented to the entrance opening 10 of the label mounting device 1 and pushed into the control zone 13 so that the head 43 passes therethrough and passes out through the exit opening 11. The exit opening is relatively large and therefore the head of the label can be passed therethrough relatively easily. The head of the label contacts the guide ramp 21 causing it to move towards the first side wall 7. As the head passes through the control zone 13, the lateral projecting parts engage the ramp sections of the stops 16 and 17 and the head of the label starts to resiliently deform.

Once the head 43 of the label passes out of the exit opening, the shoulders 44 locate behind the stops 15, the neck 42 locates between the stope 15, and the guide ramp 21 inhibits the head of the label from moving towards the second side wall 6 so that it cannot be retracted back through the control zone.

The label 40 preferably also includes a pair of lateral shoulders 47 on opposite sides of the body 41, proximate the neck 42, and facing towards the head 43. The distance between the shoulders 47 and the shoulders 44 is 5 preferably just greater than the distance between the entrance opening 10 and the exit opening 11. That is, when the label is in its retention position as shown in Figures 3 to 6, the shoulders 47 seat against the upper edges 48 of the end walls 12, and the shoulders 44 seat underneath the stop formations 15. This coaction prevents the label 40 moving up or down relative to the label mounting device thereby securely holding the label in its retention position and also preventing the label tilting from side to side within the label mounting device. The side walls 6 and 7 prevent the label 40 tilting forwards or backwards.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a label for use with a label mounting device as described above, the label being in the form described earlier.

Finally, it is to be understood that various o alterations, modifications and/or additions may be S incorporated into the various constructions and arrangements of parts without departing from the spirit or ambit of the invention.

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Claims

2. A label mounting device according to claim 1 which includes guide means on said second side wall which extends towards said first side wall, said guide means being arranged to guide the head of a label through said control zone and to cause said head to resiliently flex as it passes through said control zone.
3. A label mounting device according to claim 2 wherein said guide means and said stop means overlap each other acros: said control zone, said guide means being arranged to bias said label into engagement with said stop means when said label is in said retention position.
4. A label mounting device according to claim 2 or 3 wherein said guide means and said stop means each include a tapered surface for guiding the label as it passes through said control zone. A label mnunting device according to any preceding claim wherein there are a pair of stop formations spaced apart i in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which a label is inserted into said control zone, the distance which said stop formations are spaced apart being greater than the width of a said label neck, and less than the width of a said label 7 37 SU 'AIC <$AT head.
6. A label mounting device according to any preceding clairi wherein the distance between said entrance opening and said exit opening is slightly shorter than the length of the neck of a said label.
7. A label adapted to be mounted to a label mounting device according to any preceding claim, said label comprising an elongate sheet of resiliently flexible material, said sheet having a body, a head, and a neck joining the body to the head, a pair of shoulders being formed on the head on opposite sides thereof proximate the neck, said shoulders facing towards said body, the length of said neck being such that said head cdn be operatively passed through a said control zone such that at least one of said shoulders can locate behind said stop means to lock said label in said mounting S o d-vice. S 8. A label according to claim 7 wherein the edges of said head on the distal end thereof have a sloping form to facilitate insertion of said head into said control zone.
9. A label according to claim 7 or 8 wherein a pair of S, lateral shoulders are formed on said body proximate said neck on opposite sides of said body, said lateral shoulders being dimensioned to engage an upper edge of said label mounting baa o device to limit the extent to which said label can be inserted into said control zone. A plant pot having at least one label mounting device -r oat according to any of claims 1 to 6 formed integrally in an upper edge of a wall thereof.
11. A plant pot according to claim 10 in assembly with a Slabel according to any one or claims 7 to 9.
12. A label substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings.
13. A label mounting device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any. one of the embodiments depicted in the drawings. DATED: 16 April 199: PHILLIPS ORMONDE FITZPATRICK Attorney for: NORWOOD INDUSTRIES PTY. LTD. 4 t FY 8- Tkr O