EP0458759B1

EP0458759B1 - Element for applying a label to a bunch of bananas or the like

Info

Publication number: EP0458759B1
Application number: EP91830191A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Corrado Fantozzi; Gino Iacopini; Giorgio Lepri; Giulio Tonini
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1990-05-10
Filing date: 1991-05-10
Publication date: 1994-07-20
Anticipated expiration: 2011-05-10
Also published as: ATE108930T1; DE69102942T2; IT9011599V0; IT220973Z2; EP0458759A1; DE69102942D1; IT9011599U1

Abstract

An element for applying a label to a bunch of bananas or similar item, comprises a plate (3) forming a surface for the application of a label (16), and an annular member (5) able to be fitted on a banana (B1) of the relevant bunch (B). In order to avoid that the label be removed from the bunch, to said annular element (5) means (6) are associated able to irreversibly clamp said annular member (5) on the relevant bunch of bananas. <IMAGE>

Description

The invention refers to an element for applying a label and for hanging up bunches of bananas or similar items, of the type comprising a plate for the application of a label and an annular member solid to said plate, to be fitted on a banana for the anchorage of the element to the bunch of bananas.
The known elements of this type serve the dual purpose of forming a member for hooking the bunch to a support for the sale, and of providing a surface for the application of a label indicating the weight and cost of the article. These elements, although very economical and easy to apply, have the disadvantage of being easily removable from the relevant article to which they are applied, which implies both the risk of loosing them, with consequent need of weighing the article again, and the risk that the buyer may voluntarily remove the price-bearing label by replacing it with that of a less costly article.
The object of the invention is to provide an element of the above described type which, by remaining extremely economical to produce and quick to apply, has not the above mentioned drawbacks.
These and other objects that will appear evident to those skilled in the art from a reading of the following description, are achieved, in practice, with an element of the above mentioned type characterized in that to said annular element means are associated which are able to irreversibly clamp said annular member on the respective bunch of bananas. Once the clamping means of the annular member or ring are closed, the latter results of such dimensions as to prevent the removal thereof from the bunch of bananas to which it has been applied.
Advantageously, the means able to irreversibly clamp the annular member comprise a joint device including two irreversibly matchable parts (for example, of male and female type, respectively), solid to the annular member and disposed in such position that, when the device is closed, the annular member forms two rings, at least one of which is of such dimensions as not to allow the withdrawal of the element from the banana on which it is fitted. In this way, there is obtained an element capable of being applied in an extremely easy and fast way.
The plate may also comprise means able to engage the element to a support for the display of the bunch of bananas. To the annular member an appendix may be associated for the application of an advertising label or the like.
The element may also be utilized together with an annular member exhibiting a free end that can be clamped upon its closing so as to form an (irreversibly) closed ring of such dimensions as to prevent the withdrawal thereof from the bunch of bananas.
The drawing shows a possible emobodiment of the invention and, in particular:

Fig. 1 shows a view of the open element;
Fig. 2 shows the element of Fig. 1 with an appendix for the application of advertising labels;
Fig. 3 shows the element of Fig. 1 in closed aatitude; and
Fig. 4 shows diagrammatically the application of the element according to the invention to a bunch of bananas.

The element according to the invention, generically indicated by 1, comprises a plate 3 of whatever shape, to which an annular member 5 is solid. The plate 3 provides a surface for the application of a label bearing the price and/or weight of the bunch of bananas to which the element 1 is attached. The ring 5 exhibits, characteristically, a tripping device 6 made up of two members 6A and 6B able to be irreversibly matched thus closing the ring as shown in Fig. 3. More particularly, in the illustrated example, the tripping device has a first member 6A with elastic lips 9 defining a slit for the passage of an appendix 11 solid to the member 6B and having a shoulder so that, once inserted into the slit defined by the lips 9, it can no longer be removed therefrom. In practice, the device 6 forms a seal of warranty since, as better explained later, once the ring 5 has been fitted on a banana of the relevant bunch, by closing the device 6, the ring 5 and thus the element 1 remain engaged to the bunch without any possibility of accidentally loosing it or voluntarily replacing it.
Fig. 4 shows an element 1 applied to a bunch of bananas B. The ring 5 has been fitted on the banana B1 and closed by menas of the device 6, so that the portion of the ring surrounding the petiole P of the banana B1 results of such dimensions as to prevent the withdrawal of the same ring from the banana. On the plate 3 a label 16 is applied on which the weight and/or price of the bunch B of bananas is stamped. The label cannot be replaced with that of a lighter (and cheaper) bunch, as each element 1 is irreversibly restrained to the bunch. In this condition, the element 1 may also act as a bunch support on a bearing comprising a bar 15 on which the plate 3, suitably provided with a hole 3, is inserted.
The element of Fig. 2 is like that of Fig. 1, but exhibits also an appendix 17 on which a further label, or an adhesive stamp for advertising or the like, may be applied. The appendix 17, that can be made in one piece with the plate 3 and the ring 5, is disposed in such a way as to be immediately visible and very eye-catching when the element is applied to a bunch of bananas hanging as shown in Fig. 4.

Claims

An element for applying a label to a bunch of bananas or similar item, comprising a plate (3) forming a surface for the application of a label (16), and an annular member (5) able to be fitted on a banana (B1) of the relevant bunch (B), characterized in that to said annular element (5) means (6) are associated able to irreversibly clamp said annular member (5) on the relevant bunch of bananas.
An element according to claim 1, in which said means (6) able to irreversibly clamp the annular member (5) comprise a joint device (6A, 6B) which includes two irreversibly matchable parts, solid to the annular member (5) and disposed in such position that, when the device is closed, the annular member (5) forms two rings, at least one of which is of such dimensions as not to allow the withdrawal of the element (1) from the banana on which it is fitted.
An element according to claim 2, in which said device (6) comprises two parts, respectively a male and female part.
An element according to one or more preceding claims, in which said plate (3) comprises means (13) able to engage the element (1) to a support (15) for the display of the bunch (B) or bananas.
An element according to one or more preceding claims, in which to said annular member (5) an ppendix (17) is associated for the application of an advertising label or the like.
An element according to claim, 1, 3, 4 or 5, in which said annular member has a free end and can be clamped when it is being closed.