BE1025826B1 - Set of goods with a beacon, holder for a beacon and tool for removing the beacon from the range of goods - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a goods pallet (10) with a plastic carrier body (12) and an active electronic transmitter / receiver (24), wherein a releasable locking mechanism (40; 50; 60) is provided, by means of which the transmitter / receiver (24) attached to the goods pallet (10). The invention also relates to a holder (26) for an electronic transmitter / receiver (24), comprising a base body (28) and at least one clamping arm (40) for releasably locking the holder (26) on a plastic pallet (10). Finally, the invention relates to a tool for removing an electronic transmitter / receiver from a range of goods (10), the tool having a handle and at least one release projection adapted to engage a clamping arm of the holder of the electronic transmitter / receiver (24).

Description

Product range with a beacon, holder for a beacon and tool for removing the beacon from the product range

The invention relates to a range of goods with a beacon, a holder for a beacon and a tool for removing the beacon from the pallet.

The term “beacon” is understood here to mean an electronic component that is a transmitter or receiver that is based in particular (but not necessarily) on BLE technology (Bluetooth Low Energy). Such beacons are used in particular in shops to record the sales behavior of customers or the movement patterns of potential customers in a shop and / or to cause customers to receive push messages via a corresponding app on their smartphone when they are in stay close to a specific product.

It can make sense from various points of view to attach such a beacon directly to a range of goods. In this case, customer behavior can be linked to the goods that are on the respective pallet. Furthermore, the beacon can be used to track exactly where the pallet is currently located.

The object of the invention is to equip a range of goods with a beacon with little effort so that very different requirements can be met, for example on the one hand a mechanically very reliable fastening and on the other hand the possibility of being able to separate different materials during recycling.

To achieve this object, a range of goods with a base body made of plastic and an active electronic transmitter / receiver is provided according to the invention, a releasable locking mechanism being provided by means of which the transmitter / receiver is attached to the range of goods. The invention is based on the basic idea of attaching the electronic transmitter / receiver to the range of goods by means of a mechanical, detachable connection in such a way that on the one hand it is attached to the range of goods in an extremely short time and on the other hand, if desired, without great effort and without destruction can be separated from the range of goods.

-2BE2018 / 5425

According to one embodiment of the invention, the clamping mechanism is assigned to the transmitter / receiver. It is attached to or part of the transmitter / receiver and is used to attach the transmitter / receiver to the range of goods.

A holder for an electronic transmitter / receiver can be provided, with a base body and at least one clamping arm for releasably locking the holder of a range of goods made of plastic.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the clamping arm is designed in the manner of a barb. This makes it possible to press the holder into an opening on the goods pallet, so that the holder jams there. This minimizes the effort required for assembly.

According to an alternative embodiment, the clamping arm has a groove-shaped cross section. The clamping arm can then be attached to a stiffening web, which is located on the underside of the product range, with little effort.

It is also possible for the clamping arm to be designed in the manner of a snap hook. The snap hook is elastically bent for assembly and disassembly of the electronic transmitter / receiver from a starting position and then snaps back into the starting position after assembly, for example, so that it snaps into place on the product range.

According to one embodiment of the invention, two diametrically opposed clamping arms are provided, so that on the one hand the holding force increases and on the other hand there is a centering effect. This centering effect is further improved if three clamping arms are used.

The two clamping arms can be connected to one another by a reinforcing web, which further increases the mechanical strength.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the base body is disk-shaped, the clamping arm extending parallel to one of the outer surfaces of the base body. The base body serves as a contact surface,

-3BE2018 / 5425 so that when the holder is mounted on the product range, a wall of the product range is firmly clamped between the clamping arm and the base body. In particular, the clamping arm is elastically biased slightly.

The clamping arm can be connected centrally to the base body and can extend radially outward. This cantilevered arrangement of the clamping arm has the desired elastic deformability.

The clamping arm can in particular be hook-shaped, so that it can extend through an opening in the product range and reach behind the edge thereof.

According to one embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the base body is part of the housing of the electronic transmitter / receiver. The advantage of this configuration is that the transmitter / receiver does not have to be installed in a separate holder.

According to an alternative embodiment, it is provided that the holder is a separate part on which the electronic transmitter / receiver is detachably mounted. The advantage of this embodiment is that the transmitter / receiver does not have to be manufactured with an application-specific housing, but rather can be bought “off the shelf”. Depending on the range of goods on which it is then to be mounted, the holder is manufactured with a specific geometry.

The holder preferably has at least two holding straps for the transmitter / receiver and particularly preferably three holding straps which are arranged at an angular distance of 120 ° around a center point. This allows the transmitter / receiver to be reliably centered on the holder.

The retaining tabs are preferably elastically resilient so that the electronic transmitter / receiver can be detached from the holder if, for example, the battery has to be replaced or another transmitter / receiver is to be installed.

The retaining tabs are preferably provided with a detent at their free end, which enables the electronic transmitter / receiver to automatically

-4BE2018 / 5425 snap into place on the holder without the need for additional fastening measures.

With regard to low manufacturing costs on the one hand and high mechanical strength at the temperatures that usually occur, the holder preferably consists of one or more thermosets, one or more thermoplastics, one or more recyclates or a combination thereof. In particular, it is a one-piece component that is produced by injection molding.

The locking mechanism used to fasten the holder to the goods pallet is preferably a bayonet system, in which the holder is moved translationally along an axis until it is positioned on the goods pallet and then locked to the goods pallet by a rotational movement about this axis becomes. This type of attachment is particularly advantageous since it is not necessary to have access to the pallet from two sides at the same time; it is enough to position the holder from one side and then turn it.

According to one embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the clamping arm extends through an opening in the base body and bears against a goods support surface. Surprisingly, it has been found that this configuration results in advantages which clearly outweigh the disadvantages that are actually to be expected. Actually, it should be expected that it is unfavorable if the clamping arm extends onto the goods support surface, since there is basically a risk that the clamping arm will be damaged by goods positioned there or rotated so that the holder is released from the product range. In fact, however, the forces exerted on the clamping arm by the goods positioned on the goods support surface result in the clamping arm being “clamped” there between the goods and the goods support surface and holding them particularly reliably.

This applies all the more if the goods support surface is provided with an anti-slip design and the clamping arm interacts with the anti-slip design. The anti-slip design can be, for example, small knobs that are located on the goods support surface. The clamping arm is designed so that when the holder on the

-5BE2018 / 5425

Goods pallet is attached and twisted, slips over at least one of the knobs and "remains" behind it, whereby the holder is locked to the goods pallet even more reliably.

According to one embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the locking mechanism is assigned to the range of goods.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the locking mechanism contains a screw, the screw head of which interacts with the transmitter / receiver. With the screw, the transmitter / receiver can be attached to the product range with little effort and low costs.

In order to increase the reliability with which the transmitter / receiver is attached to the product range, it can be provided that the locking mechanism has at least one holding element which the transmitter / receiver engages behind.

The screw and / or the holding element can be attached to a stiffening web of the product range, so that the transmitter / receiver can be received in a well-protected manner in a recess which is surrounded by a plurality of stiffening webs.

It can also be provided that the locking system has at least one elastic holding arm which is made in one piece with the product range. In this case, no separate components are required to attach the transmitter / receiver to the product range. In particular, it can be clipped into the locking mechanism without further aids.

The at least one holding arm is preferably arranged in a recess which is surrounded by a plurality of stiffening webs in the product range. The transmitter / receiver can thus be installed in the recess with minimal effort.

According to the invention, a tool is also provided for removing an electronic transmitter / receiver from a range of goods, the tool having a handle and at least one release projection which is designed to engage a clamping arm of the holder of the electronic transmitter / receiver. This tool can be used without a large

-6BE2018 / 5425

Effort on the clamp arm (or on the clamp arms) of the holder are attacked and either the holder is rotated so that the clamp arm is clear of the product range, or the clamp arm is bent so that it detaches from the product range.

The invention is described below with reference to various embodiments, which are illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings. In these show:

- Figure 1 is a perspective top view of an example of a range of goods;

- Figure 2 is a perspective bottom view of a second embodiment of a range of goods;

- Figure 3 is a schematic sectional view along the plane III-III, a range of goods on which an electronic transmitter / receiver is attached by means of a holder;

- Figure 4 is a perspective view of the holder of Figure 3;

- Figure 5 in a representation corresponding to that of Figure 3, an electronic transmitter / receiver with a holder according to a second embodiment;

- Figure 6 in a view corresponding to that of Figure 3, an electronic transmitter / receiver which is attached to the range of goods with a holder according to a third embodiment;

- Figure 7 in a view corresponding to that of Figure 3, an electronic transmitter / receiver, which is attached to the range of goods with a holder according to a fourth embodiment;

- Figure 8 is a perspective bottom view of a further embodiment of a range of goods with a locking device with which an electronic transmitter / receiver can be attached to the range of goods;

9 shows the range of goods from FIG. 8 with the transmitter / receiver mounted;

-7BE2018 / 5425

- Figure 10 is a perspective bottom view of a further embodiment of a range of goods with a locking device with which an electronic transmitter / receiver can be attached to the range of goods; and

11 shows the range of goods from FIG. 10 with the transmitter / receiver mounted.

A goods pallet 10 can be seen in FIG. 1, which has a carrier body 12 and a total of four feet 14 extending from the carrier body 12.

The goods pallet 10 is a so-called quarter pallet, the base area of which corresponds to a quarter a Euro pallet.

The carrier body 12 has on its upper side facing away from the feet 14 an essentially flat goods support surface 16, in which a plurality of openings 18 are provided. The openings 18 have different functions. They make it possible to attach a so-called goods display to the goods support surface 16. They also ensure that liquid that gets onto the goods support surface 16 runs off quickly. An anti-slip design 20 can be provided on the goods support surface 16, which is shown here as small knobs for an area near the right corner of the goods pallet 10.

The product range 10 as such is known from EP2974 975A1. It is made in one piece from plastic and is stackable.

FIG. 2 shows a slightly modified variant of the product range 10, which essentially differs from the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 by the shape and arrangement of the openings 18. The main difference is that there are several comparatively large, diamond-shaped openings 18.

FIG. 2 clearly shows the stiffening structure in the carrier body 12 in the form of stiffening webs 22 which regularly intersect.

The variant in FIG. 2 is also known from EP 2 974 975 A1.

With regard to all features of the product range 10, reference is made in full to this document.

-8BE2018 / 5425

An electronic transmitter / receiver is attached to the goods pallet 10, that is to say an active component into which, for example, a specific identifier can be programmed and which sends out a signal at regular intervals that can be received, for example, by a smartphone. The electronic transmitter / receiver is, in particular, a so-called beacon that uses BLE technology.

To simplify matters, the term “beacon” is always used below. In the context of the invention, the electronic transmitter / receiver can also work with a different communication standard than with the Bluetooth standard.

The beacon is generally designated by the reference numeral 24 in FIG. Technical details are no longer relevant within the scope of this invention; the beacon can be regarded as an encapsulated housing, within which a battery, an antenna, semiconductor elements, etc. are arranged.

The beacon 24 is mounted on the goods pallet 10 by means of a holder 26, which in the embodiment shown has a disk-shaped base body 28, from which a total of three holding tabs 30 extend. Each retaining tab 30 is provided at its free end with a latch 32, behind which the beacon 24 can snap. To facilitate assembly, the retaining tabs 30 are each provided with an inclined surface 34 on their side facing away from the base body 28.

There are a total of three retaining tabs 30, which are arranged at an angular distance of 120 ° from one another around the center of the base body 28.

The beacon 24 is mounted on the holder 26 in that it is inserted between the holding tabs 30, which initially spring out elastically and then return to its original position, so that the beacon 24 is firmly locked between the three holding tabs.

On its side facing away from the holding tabs 30, the base body 28 is provided with two clamping arms 40, which are each designed in the shape of a hook. Each clamping arm 40 thus has a first section 42, which is perpendicular to the plane of the base body 28 and thus parallel to

-9BE2018 / 5425

Extension direction of the holding tabs 30 extends, and a second portion

44, which extends approximately parallel to the plane of the base body 28.

A reinforcing web 46 is provided between the two clamping arms 40 and represents an extension of the two second sections 44.

The holder 26 with the clamping arms 40 and the holding tabs 30 is made in one piece. It is a plastic injection molded part. Thermosets, thermoplastics, recyclates or a combination thereof are particularly suitable as materials.

In the exemplary embodiment shown, the holder 26 is connected to the product range 10 by means of a bayonet-type connection. For this purpose, the holder 26 is first arranged from the bottom in the space between a plurality of stiffening webs 22 such that the clamping arms 40 extend through one of the openings 18. The holder 26 is then rotated such that the underside of the second sections 44 lies on the goods support surface 16 and the upper, horizontal wall of the carrier body 12 is clamped between the clamping arms and the base body 28. The clamping arms 40 are elastically biased.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show the holder 26 mounted on the goods pallet 10 or the beacon 24 arranged in the space between a plurality of stiffening webs 22.

The mechanical locking of the holder 26 on the goods pallet 10 is improved in that the two clamping arms 40 cooperate with the anti-slip designs 20, which are located on the goods support surface 16.

In a departure from the design shown, the outer, second section 44 of the clamping arms 40 can also have a slightly rounded shape, so that objects do not easily get caught on the clamping arms.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the holder 26 is designed separately from the beacon 24. It is also conceivable to provide the clamping arms 40 used for attachment to the goods carrier pallet in one piece with the housing of the beacon 24. The special advantage resulting from the

- 10BE2018 / 5425

Attachment of the beacon between the stiffening webs 22 results in the fact that it is arranged there very protected. There is no risk that the beacon 24 will be damaged or detached from the goods pallet 10, neither when handling the pallet by means of a forklift or pallet truck, nor when being transported back in the stacked state.

Deviating from the hook-shaped clamping arms, the clamping arms can, for example, also be designed similar to elliptical disks, the dimensions of which are such that they can be inserted through the diamond-shaped openings, but lock the holder 26 on the goods pallet 10 when it is rotated.

A second embodiment is shown in FIG. This differs from the first embodiment in that the clamping arms 40 are designed in the manner of barbs, which extend laterally from the beacon and jam between two opposing stiffening webs 22 when the beacon is pressed into the space between the stiffening webs.

A third embodiment is shown in FIG. 6, in which the clamping arms 40 are channel-shaped at their end, so that they can grip around the lower edge of two stiffening webs 22. The clamping arms 40 can be designed here in particular as leaf springs, for example made of spring steel.

FIG. 7 shows a third embodiment in which the clamping arms 40 are designed as snap hooks. For the assembly (and also for the disassembly) of the beacon 24, the clamping arms 40 are brought from their position shown in solid lines into an assembly / disassembly position (shown in broken lines) in which they can be passed through the corresponding opening 18. As soon as the clamping arms 40 are released again, they return to the starting position in which the beacon 24 is then locked on the goods pallet 10.

The product range 10 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 also includes a tool with which the beacon 24 can be detached from the product range 10 if required. Either the holder 26 can be rotated with the tool, so that the bayonet connection between the holder 26 and the goods pallet 10 is released

- 11BE2018 / 5425, or the clamping arms 40 can be deformed so that the beacon is released from the product range 10.

FIGS. 8 and 9 show a range of goods according to a further embodiment. Here too, a locking mechanism (generally designated by the reference numeral 50) is used, which serves to fasten the beacon 24 to the goods pallet 10.

Here too, retaining tabs 30 are used, which are provided with a detent 32 at their free end. In contrast to the previous embodiments, the retaining tabs 30 are made in one piece with the product range 10.

The holding tabs 30 are arranged on the underside of the carrier body 12 of the goods pallet in a recess 13 which is formed by a plurality of stiffening webs 22.

The locking mechanism 50 also contains three retaining tabs 30, which are arranged at an angular distance of 120 ° around a center point.

On the underside of the carrier body 12, protrusions 52 arranged in a star shape are provided, which serve as a contact surface for the beacon 24. That elevation, which is diametrically opposite a retaining tab 30, can be provided with a small projection at its radially outer end, so that a seat for the beacon 24 is formed.

In Figure 9, the beacon can be seen snapped behind the locking lugs 32 of the retaining tabs 30. Since the retaining tabs are arranged on the underside of the carrier body 12, the beacon is arranged in a well-protected manner in the recess 13 between the stiffening webs 22, namely on the upper side of the recess. There is therefore no risk that the beacon 24 will be damaged when handling the goods pallet, for example when handling with a pallet truck or when the goods pallets are stacked.

The elevations 52 ensure that the beacon 24 does not lie flush on the underside of the carrier body 12. Thus, a tool can be very easily

- 12BE2018 / 5425 placed between the beacon 24 and the carrier body 12 and the beacon are levered out of the locking mechanism 50.

A further embodiment of the locking mechanism is shown in FIGS. 10 and 11. Overall, this is provided with the reference number 60.

Similar to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the locking mechanism 60 serves to mount the beacon in one of the recesses 13 which are formed between adjacent stiffening structures 22.

In order to fasten the beacon 24 in the corresponding recess 13, a screw 62 is used which is screwed into a screw channel 64 which is made in one piece with one of the stiffening webs 22. As can be seen in FIG. 11, both the screw channel 64 and the corresponding stiffening web 22 in this region are designed with a lower height than the surrounding stiffening webs. Thus, the head of the screw 62 does not protrude beyond the plane which is formed by the free end faces of the stiffening webs 22.

On the side facing away from the screw channel 64, two holding elements 66 are attached to the corresponding recess 13, which can be engaged by the beacon 24 in such a way that the beacon cannot slide down out of the recess 13.

The holding elements 66 are preferably separate parts which are subsequently attached to the range of goods. It can be, for example, small spring clips or the like, i.e. a component that can be assembled with little effort.

In order to attach the beacon 24 to the product range, it is inserted into the corresponding recess 13. Then the screw 62 is screwed into the screw channel 64 so that the screw head engages the beacon 24 and fixes it. The holding elements 66 are attached on the opposite side, so that the beacon 24 is also reliably held there.

Claims (29)

claims 1. Pallet (10) with a carrier body (12) made of plastic and an active electronic transmitter / receiver (24), wherein a releasable locking mechanism (40; 50; 60) is provided, by means of which the transmitter / receiver (24) on the Product range (10) is attached. 2. Pallet according to claim 1, characterized in that the locking mechanism (40) is a bayonet system. 3. Pallet according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the locking mechanism includes a clamping arm (40). 4. Goods pallet according to claim 3, characterized in that the clamping arm (40) extends through an opening (18) in the carrier body (12) and bears against a goods support surface (16). 5. Pallet according to claim 3 or claim 4, characterized in that the goods support surface (16) is provided with an anti-slip design (20) and that the clamping arm (40) cooperates with the anti-slip design (20). 6. Pallet according to one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that the locking mechanism (40) cooperates with at least one surface of a stiffening structure (22) of the pallet. 7. Pallet according to claim 1, characterized in that the locking system (60) has at least one elastic holding arm (30) which is made in one piece with the pallet (10). 8. Pallet according to claim 7, characterized in that the at least one holding arm (30) is arranged in a recess (13) which is surrounded by a plurality of stiffening webs (22) of the pallet (10). 9. Pallet according to claim 1, characterized in that the locking mechanism (60) contains a screw (62) whose screw head cooperates with the transmitter / receiver (24). BE2018 / 5425 10. Pallet according to claim 9, characterized in that the locking mechanism (60) has at least one holding element (66) which engages behind the transmitter / receiver (24). 11. Pallet according to claim 9 and claim 10, characterized in that the screw (62) and / or the holding element (66) is attached to a stiffening web (22) of the pallet (10). 12. holder (26) for an electronic transmitter / receiver (24), with a base body (28) and at least one clamping arm (40) for releasably locking the holder (26) on a plastic goods pallet (10). 13. Holder according to claim 12, characterized in that the clamping arm (40) is designed in the manner of a barb. 14. Holder according to claim 12, characterized in that the clamping arm (40) is groove-shaped in cross section. 15. Holder according to claim 12, characterized in that the clamping arm (40) is designed in the manner of a snap hook. 16. Holder according to one of claims 12 to 15, characterized in that two diametrically opposite clamping arms (40) are provided. 17. Holder according to claim 16, characterized in that the clamping arms (40) are connected to one another by a reinforcing web (46). 18. Holder according to one of claims 12 to 17, characterized in that the base body (28) is disc-shaped and the clamping arm (40) extends parallel to one of the outer surfaces of the base body (28). 19. Holder according to claim 18, characterized in that the clamping arm (40) is connected centrally to the base body (28) and extends radially outwards. 20. Holder according to one of claims 18 and 19, characterized in that the clamping arm (40) is hook-shaped. BE2018 / 5425 21. Holder according to one of claims 12 to 20, characterized in that the base body (28) is part of the housing of the electronic transmitter / receiver (24). 22. Holder according to one of claims 12 to 20, characterized in that the holder (26) is a separate part on which the electronic transmitter / receiver (24) is detachably mounted. 23. Holder according to claim 22, characterized in that the holder has at least two retaining tabs (30) for the transmitter / receiver. 24. Holder according to claim 23, characterized in that three retaining tabs (30) are provided, which are arranged at an angular distance of 120 ° around a center. 25. Holder according to one of claims 23 and 24, characterized in that the holding tabs (30) are resilient. 26. Holder according to one of claims 23 to 25, characterized in that the holding tabs (30) are provided at their free end with a latching lug (32). 27. Holder according to one of claims 12 to 26, characterized in that it is formed in one piece from plastic. 28. Holder according to one of claims 12 to 27, characterized in that the holder consists of one or more thermosets, one or more thermoplastics, one or more recyclates or a combination thereof. 29. Tool for removing an electronic transmitter / receiver from a range of goods (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it has a handle and at least one release projection, which is for engaging a clamping arm of the holder of the electronic transmitter / receiver (24) is formed.