EP1560188B1

EP1560188B1 - Label holder with a combination support

Info

Publication number: EP1560188B1
Application number: EP05009763A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Bengt Ahlund; Stefan Eriksson; Marten SJÖBERG
Original assignee: HL Display AB
Current assignee: HL Display AB
Priority date: 2003-04-14
Filing date: 2004-04-14
Publication date: 2007-02-28
Anticipated expiration: 2024-04-14
Also published as: DE602004004998D1; WO2004090846A1; DE602004004998T2; DE602004000128T2; EP1560188A2; ATE306704T1; PL1560188T3; ATE355582T1; PL1514252T3; EP1560188A3; SE525067C2; EP1514252A1; SE0301114D0; SE0301114L; DE602004000128D1; EP1514252B1

Abstract

Label holder comprising a base (2) and an openable cover (1), which base and cover when closed form an intermediate space for receiving at least one label (40, 41). The base or the cover exhibits, at its outside (2'', 1'), which is opposite to the intermediate space, a combination bracket for attaching the label holder to one of at least two possible support devices (30', 30'') with different geometries. The base or the cover may also exhibit compartments (8, 9) for receiving labels, which compartments exhibit entrances (8', 9') directed in opposite directions. <IMAGE>

Description

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a label holder for holding and displaying labels, which label holder comprises a base and an openable cover which in closed position form an intermediate space for receiving at least one label.

Background of the invention

Such label holders or price cassettes are used inter alia in provision-shops, where they by means of a carrier may be placed e.g. at delicatessen counters for displaying price and/or other information concerning the goods at which they are placed.
US 4,679,339 describes a label holder having an openable cover which is hinged to a base. The cover and the base exhibit, at one first edge each, cooperating snap members for holding the cover closed to the base. The base comprises a number of compartments arranged side by side, which extend in a direction from one of the edges of the base to the opposite edge, for receiving numerical labels. At the back or outside of the base, a fastening member is arranged for holding the label holder at a carrier.
A number of different such carriers with different dimensions exist on the market. The carrier often comprises a pin having an essentially rectangular cross-section and a bracket or a foot for attachment to for instance a shelf or placing the carrier with label holder at e.g. a delicatessen counter. The pin is intended to be slipped into a channel or the like at the fastening member of the label holder, such that the label holder is fixed at the carrier by means of friction between the channel and the pin. A problem in this connection is that one and the same label holder should be able to be fastened at several different types of carriers, at which carriers the pin exhibits rectangular cross-sections with different dimensions, especially different widths.
At other known label holders, the compartments for receiving the labels are arranged in the cover. It is often desired that the compartments have at least two different sizes. Often, one or two larger compartments for receiving labels with text or image matter are arranged at the inside of the upper half of the cover. At the inside of the lower half of the cover a number of smaller compartments for receiving numerical labels are arranged side by side. At such known label holder covers, both the upper and the lower compartments have orifices for inserting the labels, all of which orifices are facing upwards. This entails certain problems since the lower labels have to be pushed past the upper compartments when they are to be slipped into the lower compartments. Furthermore, this solution does not permit that the upper and lower compartments are arranged at an angle to each other, such that the lower end of the upper compartments and the upper end of the lower compartments meet at the centre of the cover forming an angle between the upper and the lower compartments, which angle is smaller than 180°. Such an angle between the upper and the lower compartments is desired e.g. if the cover is convexly formed, such that the front side of the cover bulges forwardly. In the absence of the above-described angle between the upper and lower compartments it is then not possible to arrange the compartments such that they extend essentially in parallel with the concave inside of the cover. This in turn means that the label holder has to be made thicker. Furthermore, it may then not be guaranteed that the labels bear against the inside of the cover, which impair the readability of the labels.

Brief description of the invention

An object of the present invention is therefore to produce a label holder, which in a simple and space-saving manner allows for fastening of the label holder at carriers having different dimensions.
This object is achieved with a label holder of the type described in the introduction, which label holder is characterized by the special technical features specified in claim 1.
A further object is to achieve a label holder at which the cover may be reliably fastened to the base by snapping-in. This and other objects are achieved by means of the embodiments of the invention specified in the dependent claims.
Below two exemplifying embodiments of the invention are described, with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view obliquely from the front of a label holder according to the invention.
Figs 2a and 2b are perspective views obliquely from the rear of the cover at the label holder shown in Fig. 1, Fig. 2a showing the labels in an inserted position and Fig. 2b showing the labels during insertion in the cover.
Fig. 3a is a front view of the base at the label holder shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3b is a side view of the base in Fig. 3a and Fig. 3c is a cross-section along line A-A in Fig. 3a.
Figs 4a and 4b are perspective views obliquely from the rear of the label holder shown in Fig. 1, Fig. 4a showing a first carrier during insertion in a fastening member of the label holder and Fig. 4b showing the first carrier in the inserted position.
Figs 5a and 5b are perspective views corresponding to those in Figs 4a and 4b, Fig. 5a showing a second carrier during insertion in the fastening member of the label holder and Fig. 5b showing the second carrier in inserted position.
Fig. 6a is a perspective view corresponding to Fig. 4a without carrier and Fig. 6b is an enlargement of a detail thereof.
Fig. 7 is a perspective view obliquely from the front of another embodiment of a label holder according to the invention.

Description of embodiments

In this description reference will be made to different directions, such as up, down, forward, backward etc. These directions are not to be regarded as limiting but do only refer to what is shown in pictures.
The label holder shown in Figs 1-6 comprises a cover 1 and a base 2. In the shown example the base 2 constitutes the rear part of the label holder and the cover 1 constitutes its front part. The cover 1 is transparent for admitting that the labels received in the label holder may be visible through the cover. The cover consists of a rectangular injection-molded piece of a polymer material. The cover 1 exhibits an upper 1a and a lower 1b edge and two side edges 1c, 1d. The front 1' of the cover 1 is slightly convex. A partition-wall 3 which protrudes inwardly, towards the base, extends across the inside 1" of the cover, preferably halfway between and in parallel with the upper and lower edges 1a, 1b. A number of lower side-walls 4a, 4b extend perpendicularly downwards from the partition-wall 3. The side-walls 4 exhibit tongues 5, arranged at the edges which face inwards towards the base 2. The tongues 5 extend downwards from the partition-wall 3, essentially in parallel with the base 2. At the side-walls 4a arranged in proximity to the side edges 1c, 1d of the cover, the tongues 5a extend in a direction towards each other from the respective side-wall. At the intermediate side-walls 4b the tongues 5b extend sidewise at each side of the respective side-wall 4b. Two upper side-walls 6 extend perpendicularly upwards from the partition-wall 3 in proximity to and parallel with the side edges 1c, 1d of the cover. These side-walls 6 also exhibit similar tongues 7, which extend in a direction towards each other.
The lower side-walls 4a, 4b form together with the lower tongues 5a, 5b and the inside 1" of the cover a number of compartments 8, which exhibit an orifice 8' which is open downwards. Small labels 40 may be inserted from below in the direction of the arrow A (fig. 2b) into these compartments. The distance between the inside 1" of the cover 1 and the tongues 5a, 5b is such that a long and narrow, thin paper label, which is accordion-folded with e.g. four folds, such that the so folded label exhibits five paper layers, is held in the compartments 8 by friction between the paper and the inside 1" of the cover and the tongues 5a, 5b, respectively.
The upper side-walls 6 form together with the upper tongues 7 and the inside 1" of the cover a compartment 9 having an upwards open orifice 9'. A larger label 41 may be inserted from above in the direction of the arrow B (fig. 2b) into this compartment 9. This larger label 41 may also be folded for being held by friction in the compartment. However, since the compartment is open upwards the label is retained in the compartment 9, against the partition-wall 3 by gravity also when the cover 1 has been removed from the base 2, if only the cover is carried with the upper side edge 1a in an upward position. According to the shown example and in order to further ensure holding of the larger label 41 in the upper compartment 9, an elastic clip 22 is arranged at the partition-wall 3, such that it protrudes upwards into the compartment 9 for resiliently fasten the label 41 against the inside 1" of the cover.
Since the compartments 8, 9 are open in different directions, it is possible to insert the labels from different directions. Hereby, the problem at previous known holders, where the lower labels have to be passed over the upper compartments when they are to be inserted into the lower compartments, is solved. Furthermore, this design of the compartments admits that the compartments may follow the concave inside of the forwardly convex cover. The upper and lower compartments may thus be designed with an angle, which is smaller than 180° in relation to each other and at the same time allow for easy insertion and removal of the labels. Thereby, the total thickness of the cover may be minimized also at such forwardly convex covers.
The base 2 (see Figs 3a-3c) consists of an injection-moulded piece of polymer material and exhibits an essentially flat front 2', facing the cover 1, and a back 2", which faces away from the cover and is parallel with the front. The base 2 also exhibits an upper 2a and a lower 2b edge and two side edges 2c, 2d. Respective walls 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d extend along the entire length of all of the edges 2a-2d. These walls 10a-10d protrude essentially perpendicularly from the front 2' of the base. When the cover is closed, the edges 1a-1d of the cover bear against the walls 10a-10d of the base.
For attachment of the cover 1 to the base 2, the base 2 exhibits, at its lower edge 2b, a flange 11, which extends along the entire lower edge 2b of the base and which protrudes forwardly and downwardly from the lower wall 10b. At least one groove 12 is formed in the flange 11.
The groove 12 is open upwards and extends parallel with the lower edge 2b of the base, at least along a portion of the flange 11. At its lower edge 1b, the cover 1 exhibits a rim 13 (see figs 2a, 2b) which rim extends in parallel with the lower edge 1b along at least a portion of this edge and which protrudes downwardly from the edge 1b. The groove 12 and the rim 13 are formed such that the rim 13 may be inserted into the groove 12.
The base 2 exhibits, at its upper edge 2a, a snap-hook 14 which protrudes forwardly from the upper wall 10a, past the upper edge 1a of the cover when the cover is closed. The snap-hook 14 exhibits a tooth 15 which protrudes downwards from the front of the cover 1. A recess 23 is arranged in the upper edge 1a of the cover, below the snap-hook 14, for cooperating with the snap-hook 14 and the tooth 15.
When the cover 1 is to be fastened and closed to the base 2, the lower edge 1b of the cover is brought against the lower edge 2b of the base, whereafter the rim 13 is inserted into the groove 12. Thereafter, the upper edge 1a of the cover 1 is folded backwards towards the base 2. The recess 23 in the upper edge 1a of the cover 1 makes contact with the tooth 15, whereby the tooth is forced upwards such that the snap-hook 14 is rotated upwards around an axis which extends along the upper wall of the base in parallel with the upper edge 2a of the base. When the front of the cover has passed by the tooth 15 of the snap-hook 14, the tooth snaps down in front of the front and does by this means hold the cover 1 against the base 2. In order to open the label holder, the snap-hook 14 is pushed upwards under rotation around the above-mentioned axis of rotation, such that the recess 23 in the upper edge 1a of the cover clears the tooth 15. The cover may thereafter be folded forwards and removed, whereby the rim 13 at the lower edge 1b of the cover exits the groove 12 in the flange 11 of the base. In order to increase the elastic deflection of the snap-hook during rotation of the snap-hook around its axis of rotation, an opening 16 is arranged in the base 2 slightly below the connection between the snap-hook 14 and the upper wall 10a of the base. The opening 16 is formed as a slit which extends in parallel with the upper edge of the base. The slit may be a through-opening or formed as a non-through recess, which is open towards the back 2" or front 2' of the base. The slit extends preferably a certain distance outside of both sides of the snap-hook 14.
According to the invention a combination support is arranged at the back 2" of the base, for attaching the label holder at one of several possible carriers 30', 30", frequently occurring on the market,. The carriers comprise a pin 31', 31" having a generally rectangular cross-section and a fastener 32', 32" for attaching the carrier to e.g. a shelf (not shown). The pins 31', 31" of the respective carrier 30', 30" have different widths, such that the pin 31" is wider than the pin 31'. The combination support comprises a support member 17, which protrudes from the back 2" of the base 2 and which exhibits at least two essentially rectilinear channels 18a, 18b (see figs 4a, 5a) having different cross-sectional dimensions. The channels 18a, 18b are parallel and mutually centered along the longitudinal direction of the channels. The first, generally narrower channel 18b is arranged outside the second, generally wider channel 18a. The support member 17 comprises a general H-profile which tapers upwards (outwards from the base), the base of which H-profile is fixed to the back 2" of the label holder base 1. The generally wider channel 18a is formed between the back of the label holder base, the legs 19, 20 of the H-profile and the bridge 21 which connects the legs 19, 20. The generally narrower channel 18b is formed between the bridge 21 of the H-profile and the portions of the legs 10, 20 which portions extend upwards/vutwards from the bridge 21.
The combination support admits that the label holder may be fastened to carriers having different cross-sectional dimensions. If the label holder is to be fastened to a narrower carrier this carrier is inserted into the narrower channel 18b, whereby the label holder is secured to the carrier by friction between the pin of the carrier and the material in the H-profile. If the label holder on the other hand is to be fastened to a wider carrier, this carrier is inserted into the wider channel 18a, whereby the label holder is secured to the carrier by friction between the pin of the carrier and the material of the H-profile and the back of the base 1.
Fig. 7 shows another embodiment of the invention. At this embodiment the cover and the base are wider than in the embodiment shown above. For secure attachment of the cover at the base, two snap-hooks 14 with associated teeth and recesses are arranged at the upper edge of the base. Two recesses 23 for cooperation with the snap-hooks 14 are in a corresponding way arranged side by side in the upper edge of the cover.
The invention has been described above by means of exemplifying embodiments and should not be understood as limited to these embodiments. Instead, the invention may be varied in a number of different ways. For example, the means for attaching the cover to the base and the means for receiving labels may be omitted or combined with the means for fastening to a carrier in different ways depending on the field of application.

Claims

Label holder comprising a base (2) and an openable cover (1), which in a closed position form an intermediate space for receiving at least one label (40, 41), characterized in that the base or cover, at its outside (2", 1') opposite to the intermediate space, exhibits a combination support for attachment of the label holder to one of at least two possible carriers (30', 30") having different geometries, wherein the wherein the combination support comprises a support member (17), which protrudes from the outside (2", 1') of the base or cover and which exhibits at least two essentially rectilinear channels (18a, 18b) having different cross-sectional dimensions, which channels (18a, 18b) are parallel with each other and mutually centered longitudinally and arranged one outside of the other in relation to the outside (2", 1') of the base or cover.
Label holder according to claim 1, wherein the support member (17) comprises a generally upwardly tapering H-profile the base of which H-profile is fixed to the outside (2", 1') of the label holder base or cover, such that a first channel (18a) with a first largest width is formed between the outside of the base or cover, the legs (19, 20) of the H-profile and a bridge (21) connecting the legs and such that the other channel (18b) with a second largest width is formed between the bridge (21) of the H-profile and the legs (19, 20) above the bridge, wherein the largest width of the first channel (18a) is larger than the largest width of the second channel (18b).
Label holder according to any of claims 1-2, wherein the cover (1) is removable from the base (2) and wherein the base at a first of its edges (2a) exhibits a protruding snap-hook (14), which extends in a direction towards the cover (1) and which is provided with a tooth (15), which is arranged to be snapped into engagement with a corresponding first edge (1a) of the cover, for removable attachment of the cover and wherein the base exhibits an opening (16) in the proximity of the snap-hook (14) for increasing the resilient deflection of the snap-hook (14).
Label holder according to claim 3, wherein the base (2), at a second edge (2b) which is opposite to the first edge (2a) of the base, exhibits a flange (11) which extends essentially parallel with the second edge of the base, protrudes in a direction towards the cover and which exhibits a longitudinal groove (12) and wherein the cover (1) at a second edge (1b) which is opposite to the first edge (1a) of the cover exhibits a rim (13) which extends essentially in parallel with the second edge of the cover, protrudes essentially perpendicularly from said second edge and which is designed for being received by the longitudinal groove (13) of the flange (11) of the base when in a mounted position. (3)
Label holder according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the opening (16) in proximity to the snap-hook (14) consists of a slit which extends essentially parallel with the first edge (2a) of the base at which first edge the snap-hook is arranged.
Label holder according to any of claims 3-5, wherein the opening (16) is a through opening.