GB2111283A

GB2111283A - Marking system for shelf or window displays

Info

Publication number: GB2111283A
Application number: GB08228967A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Rowland Towers
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1981-11-24
Filing date: 1982-10-11
Publication date: 1983-06-29

Abstract

Each of the elements 10 of an information bearing marker comprises a block 12 with a tongue 14 on one side and a slot (30) on its opposite side for receiving the tongue of an adjacent block. A pin P has its head (H) inserted in a cavity provided therefor by grooves (40) and a recess (42) formed in the slot and its shank (S) protrudes from the block. The tongue 14 of the adjacent block is inserted in the slot after the pin has been inserted and traps the pin in the slot. The tongue and slot may be ribbed or dovetailed. The pin (or pins) may be omitted for use with a shelf or the pins may be bent to form a stand. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Marking system This invention relates to an information bearing marker which can be attached to, for example, an article of clothing.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided an information bearing element including a block having a front face bearing information, a slot in one edge of the block, the slot being bounded by at least front and rear faces and by one edge surface, the edge surface having a recess therein which is aligned with a groove in each of said front and rear faces, and a tongue protruding from the other edge of the block, the tongue being dimensioned so that it can be received in the slot of another element.

Said tongue can have a top edge, a bottom edge, a side edge and two side faces, the side and top edges being joined by an angled surface which, when the tongue of one element is pushed into the slot of another element, defines with said recess a cavity for receiving the head of a pin the shank of which extends between said one edge surface of the slot and the side edge of the tongue to protrude from the marker.

The slot can be closed at the top and thus additionally be bounded by a top surface which top surface bears downwardly on the head of a pin received in said recess when pressure is applied to the marker to secure it, by means of the pin, to an article.

Preferably, one of said side faces of the tongue has a groove therein and the other of said side faces of the tongue has a rib thereon, said faces of the slot being formed one with a mating rib and the other with a mating slot.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided the combination of a pair of marker elements as described above, the tongue of one element being entered in the slot of the other.

The combination can further include a pin between the tongue of said one element and said one edge surface of the slot of the other element, the shank of the pin protruding from the pair of marker elements.

For a better understanding of the present invention, and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a front elevation of an information bearing marker element; Figure 2 is a top plan view of the element of Figure 1, Figure 3 is a section on the line Ill-Ill of Figure 2; Figure 4 is an elevation of one edge of the element of Figure 1; Figure 5 is an elevation of the opposite edge of the element of Figure 1; and Figure 6 shows elements of the form illustrated in Figures 1 to 5 connected to one another to form an information bearing marker.

Referring firstly to Figures 1 to 5, the information bearing element illustrated is generally designated 10 and includes a block 12 and a tongue 14 protruding from one edge of the block 12. The front face 1 6 of the block 12 carries information. In the illustrated form the information carried by the face 1 6 is the numeral 5.

The tongue 14 has front and rear faces 1 8 and 20, a top edge 22, a bottom edge 24 and a side edge 26. The top edge 22 and the side edge 26 are joined by an angled surface 28. It will be seen from Figures 2 and 5 that the tongue 14 is narrower in the direction between the faces 1 8 and 20 than is the block between its front face 1 6 and the opposed rear face.

A slot 30 is formed in the block 12. The slot 30 is bounded by front and rear faces 32 and 34, a top edge 36 and a side edge 38. The side edge 38 is of vee form as shown in Figure 2.

Opposed grooves 40 are formed in the faces 32 and 34 (see Figure 4), these being aligned with a recess 42 (Figure 3) in the side edge 38.

In use a pin P is inserted in the slot 30 through the open side thereof. The head H of the pin P engages in the grooves 40 of the slot 30 and the pin is moved across until it abuts the side edge 38. The vee shape of the edge 38 centres the pin in the slot 30. Part of the head H of the pin P enters the recess 42. The tongue 14 of another element of the same type is subsequently pushed into the slot 30 unit it abuts the pin P, the angled surface 28 permitting the tongue to be pushed into the slot sufficiently far from its side edge 26 to engage the shank of the pin P without its motion being hindered by the head H. As will be seen from Figures 3 and 6, part of the shank S of the pin P protrudes from the two interconnected elements and it will be understood that it cannot be withdrawn by pulling on the shank.Only if the two elements are disconnected and the pin is slid along the slot 30 can it be detached.

The pin P can be used to secure the joined elements 10 to an article of clothing in, for example, a window display. It will be understood that, to the right or to the left of the two elements 10 shown in Figure 6, there can be other elements with numerals, letters, symbols or colours on them representing a price or conveying other information.

In Figure 6 part of a third element 10 to the right of the element bearing the numeral 5 is shown. Also shown are two pins P trapped between the three elements. The provision of more than one pin results in a more positive fixing of a marker built-up from individual elements than does a single pin. An arrangement including more than one pin is also useful when an item such as a shoe is being marked. This is usually done on the heel and, in the absence of the second pin, the marker can swivel around so that the information bearing surfaces are no longer facing in the desired direction.

To prevent the elements 10 from being pulled apart in any direction other than sideways, a rib (not shown) can be provided on, for example, the face 1 8 and a groove on the face 20. A mating groove and a mating rib can be provided on the faces 32 and 34 respectively. The ribs and groove can, if desired, provide a dovetail connection.

When elements are joined without the insertion of pins, then the resultant information bearing marker can be affixed to a shelf edge or other vertical surface. Alternatively, the parts of the shanks 5 which protrude from the joined elements 10 can be bent through right angles to form a stand for the information bearing marker.

In practice, a plurality of elements 10 are provided as a set, some elements bearing letters, other numbers and other symbols. Additionally, some of the elements can be coloured.

Claims

1. An information bearing element including a block having a front face bearing information, a slot in one edge of the block, the slot being bounded by at least front and rear faces and by one edge surface, the edge surface having a recess therein which is aligned with a groove in each of said front and rear faces, and a tongue protruding from the other edge of the block, the tongue being dimensioned so that it can be received in the slot of another element.

2. An element as claimed in claim 1, wherein said tongue has a top edge, a bottom edge, a side edge and two side faces, the side and top edges being joined by an angled surface which, when the tongue of one element is pushed into the slot of another element defines with said recess a cavity for receiving the head of a pin the shank of which extends between said one edge surface of the slot and the side edge of the tongue to protrude from the marker.

3. An element as claimed in claim 2, wherein the slot is closed at the top and is thus additionally bounded by a top surface which top surface bears downwardly on the head of a pin received in said recess when pressure is applied to the marker to secure it, by means of the pin, to an article.

4. An element as claimed in claim 2 or 3, wherein one of said side faces of the tongue has a groove therein and the other of said side faces of the tongue has a rib thereon, said faces of the slot being formed one with a mating rib and the other with a mating slot.

5. The combination of a pair of marker elements as claimed in any preceding claim, the tongue of one element between entered in the slot of the other.

6. The combination claimed in claim 5, and including a pin between the tongue of said one element and said one edge surface of the slot of the other element, the shank of the pin protruding from the pair of marker elements.

7. An information bearing marker element substantially as hereinbefore described and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

8. An information bearing marker substantially as hereinbefore described and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.