GB2122478A

GB2122478A - Display prong

Info

Publication number: GB2122478A
Application number: GB08217779A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Clifford Royston Fox
Original assignee: CBM Display Group Ltd
Current assignee: CBM Display Group Ltd
Priority date: 1982-06-18
Filing date: 1982-06-18
Publication date: 1984-01-18
Also published as: GB2122478B

Abstract

Wire prong 20 is attached to a clip 10 at its proximal end, and the assembly of prong and clip is mounted on, and is slidable along, an elongate support 34. The support 34 may be part of a rack, or may be supported by brackets or aperture-entering hooks. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Prong device The present invention relates to a prong device for use in the display of merchandise. The prong is cantilevered from a proximal end thereof, and various goodsmay besuspended from the prong, especially packswhich are formed with slots through which the prong can extend.

Hitherto such a prong has been made with hooks at its proximal end from which the prong is cantilevered.

These hooks engage holes or recesses in an upright stem or other supporting means. As a result, such a prong has to be removed from the supporting means, and its hooks reinserted in other holes or recesses, if the prongs areto be shifted in relation to the supporting means. It is an aim ofthe present invention to improve the ease with which the prong can be shifted in relation to its supporting means.

Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a prong device comprising a clip, and a prong which can be attached to the clip atthe proximal end of the prong in such a mannerthatallowsthe device to be attached to an elongate horizontal support member, and subsequently slid therealong.

In one form, the present invention provides a prong device which can be attached to an elongate horizontal support member, comprising a generally C-shaped clip having aperturesthrough those parts ofthe clip corresponding to the ends of the "C", and a prong having a proximal end or ends which can be inserted through those apertures whereby such a support member can be held between that proximal end, or those proximal ends, and the part ofthe clip corresponding to the centre ofthe "C", whilst allowing the prong device to be slid along such a support member.

Preferably, the C-shaped clip is made of a synthetic plastics material and may be moulded from A.B.S., polycarbonate, acrylic, or glass ortalcfilled nylon, and may be in any one of a variety of colours. The prong maybe madeofwire,forexample, pre-tin-coated wire. In one form, the prong may comprise a first piece of wire bent into an inverted U-shape, and a second length of wire having one end spot welded to a centre portion of the inverted U-shape piece of the prong. this second length of wire being substantially straight but for an upturned free end thereof Preferably, however, the wire prong is made of a single piece of which is bent double to have two substantially parallel straight lengths of wire.The end where the wire has been bent double is an intended free end ofthe prong and is upturned,/atthe other end ofthe prong, parallel lengths of/and, wire are bent downwardly to form the proximal end ofthe prong.

An advantage of a prong device in accordance with the present invention is that graphics material or other information can be displayed on the clip, preferably on a card inserted in a channel formed around one face of the clip which is directed towards the free end of the prong when the device is put together. Afurther advantage of the device is that, once it has been attached to an elongate horizontal support member, it can be slid therealong to any position to allowfor products of various widths.

If a one-piece prong is used, it is particularly advantageous to make itfrom a self-finished material, for example pre-tin-coated wire, since there is no welding involved in its manufacture.

Ifthe clip is moulded from synthetic plastics material, the fact that it can be made in substantially any colour allows itto reflect or show the colours of the company which manufactures the goods to be supported by the prongs.

The elongate horizontal support member may comprise a carrier rail, made from two substantially parallel lengths of wire to which small transverse Iengthsofwirearewelded,oran elongate hollow extrusion of plastics or aluminium having an elongate cross-section.

Examples of prong devices in accordance with the present invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure lisa perspective view a mounting clip of a prong device; Figure 2 is a side view of the clip shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is plan view ofthe clip shown in Figure 1; Figure 4 is a perspective view of a prong having a proximal end which can be attached to the clip shown in Figure 1; Figure 4a is a diagrammatic perspective view of a modified form of prong; Figure 5 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a horizontal carrierrailforsupporting a prong device as shown in Figures 1 and 4, or Figures 1 and 4a;; Figure 6 shows a cross-sectional view through a prong device as shown in Figures 1 and 4 assembled on a carrier rail as shown in Figure 5; Figure 7 shows a perspective diagrammatic view of an alternative horizontal supportforthe prong assembly; Figures 8a and 8b show perspective views, from opposite sides, of a clip for use in mounting the horizontal support shown in Figure 7 on to upright vertical stems; Figure 9 shows a perspective diagrammaticview of the horizntal support shown in Figure 7 mounted in this way; Figure 10 shows a diagrammatic view of a display unit comprising a number of prongs attached to several horizontal support members which are in turn mounted on vertical stems; Figure 11 shows a perspective view ofthe clip shown in Figure 1 together with an identity card insert; and Figure 12 shows a perspective view of the clip shown in Figure 1 togetherwith a graphics insert.

The ciip shown in Figure 1 has a generally C-shaped cross-section, in the particularviewshown in Figure 1 the "C" being laterally inverted, made of A.B.S., polywa rbonate, acrylic, glass or talc fil led nylon, or other synthetic plastics material. It has two circular longitudinally spaced-apartthrough-holes 12 in each ofthose parts 14 ofthe clip corresponding to the ends of the "C".Around three sides of the periphery of a rearface 16 ofthe C-shaped clip, there are L-sectioned strips 18 which define a channel around that periphery, the channel being open at two ends thereof on an intended upper side ofthe clip, to allow a card, having substantially the same dimensions as the rear face ofthe clip, to have its edges slid into the channel to be retained thereby.

One useful size of such a clip has parts 14with a length along the clip of 13/8 inch (35mm) and a width of 3/4inch (19mm) with 5/32 inch diameter holes (4mm diameter) having their centres spaced apart by 1 inch (25mm), the central part of it C-shaped part being 11/4 inches (32mm) by 13/8 inch (35mm).

Figure 4 shows a single-piece pre-tin-coated wire prong which is bent double at an intended free end 22 ofthe prong to provide two substantially parallel lengths 20 extending between the end 22, which is upturned, and a proximal end ofthe prong atwhich those two lengths of wire are bent downwardlyto provide two portions 24 which can be inserted through the holes 12 ofthe clip 10. To allow this, the wire is substantially 5/32 inch (4mm) in diameter, and the parallel lengths of wire 20 are spaced apart by substantially 1 inch (25mm). In the modified form of the prong shown in Figure 4a, there is an inverted U-shaped piece of wire 26 to the central upper part of which is spot welded one end 32 of a substantially straight length of wire 28 having an upturned free end 30.

Figure 5 shows a horizontal guide rail on which a prong and clip such as are shown in Figures 1 and 4 can be supported. The guide rail comprises two substantially parallel spaced apart straight lengths of wire 34 held together by short transverse lengths of wire 36 each of which are spot welded to the horizontal length 34. The transverse pieces of wire at the two ends ofthe guide rail are each provided with hooks 38 on an intended upper side ofthe guide rail for insertion into any selected one of a number of holes 40 spaced apart longitudinally along two vertical stems 42.

Figure 6 shows how the clip as shown in Figure 1 and a prong as shown in Figure4 can be assembled together on a guide rail as shown in Figure 5. After a card 44 bearing, for example, a brand or code number of a productwhich isto be supported on the prong, has been inserted in the channel 18, the clip is placed on the guide rail with the two horizontal lengths of wire 34 positioned snugly on the inside of the clip at respective corners where the centre part of the clip meets the two end parts 14.The downturned ends 24 ofthe prong are then inserted through the holes 12 in the clip 10so that not only is the prong held by the clip, but also, sincethe straight lengths wire 34 of the guide rail are nowtrapped between the centre partoftheclip 10 and the downturned ends 24 ofthe prong, the clip and prong assembly is held firmly on the guide rail, but not so firmly that the assembly can not be slid along the guide rail.

Awire guide rail is notthe only form of elongate horizontal support meansforthe prong and clip, and Figure 7 shows an alternative. It comprises a hollow extrusion 46 of synthetic plastics material or alumi nium, having an elongate cross-section 48 with dimensions which are similar to the outer dimensions of a cross-section through the guide rail shown in Figure 5. The extrusion may have a central longitudinally-extending web 50 to improve its rigidity. The clip shown in Figures 8a and 8b has a flat portion 52 from a rear side of which projecttwo circularly crosssectioned spigots 54 and on a front side of which is a U-shaped rib 54. The plate, rib and spigots may be moulded intregallywith one another.

Two such clips may be positioned on verticallyextending stems 42 having longitudinally-spaced holes 44 by means ofthe spigots 53 (not shown in Figure 9). The extrusion 46 may now have its ends slid into the mouths of the U-shaped ribs 54 and further downwardly until those ends restfirmly on the inside ofthe bases of the U-shaped ribs. A prong and clip assembly can then be located on the extrusion 46 in the same way as on the guide rail shown in Figure 5.

Figure 10 shows how a whole unit can be built up to support a number of prongs. The unit comprises an H-shaped base 56 which holds the bottom end of two vertically extending stems 42 across the other end of which extend a graphics card 58. At intermediate position, located in the manner described with referenceto Figure 5, are a number of horizontally extending guide rails 34 mounted on the upright stems 42. These guide rails 34 support a number of prongs 60. Figure loins very diagrammatic, and the prongs 60 may be of the construction shown in Figure 4, orofthe modified construction shown in Figure4a.

Figure 11 shows how an identity card 44 is inserted into the channel 18 ofthe clip 10, the card 44 here having substantiallythe same dimensions as the rear face 16 ofthe clip 10. In Figure 12, graphics card 52 has considerably larger dimensions, and can be attached to the clip 10 by means of a tongue 64 which is sufficiently narrowto allow itto be inserted between the parallel straight lengths 20 of a clip as shown in Figure 4 afterthe latter has had its ends 24 inserted into the holes 12 of a clip.

Itwill readily occurto persons skilled in the artthat many different colours and materials can be used for the clip shown in Figure 1, orthe prong shown in Figure 4 or4a, and also a variety of shapes and sizes could be used for both,the possibilities not being limited to those actually illustrated.

CLAIMS (filed on 19/5/83) 1. A prong device for use in the display or storage of merchandise, comprising a clip, and a prong which can be attached to the clip at the proximal end ofthe prong in such a mannerthat allows the device to be attached to an elongate substantially horizontal sup port member or members, and subsequently slid therealong.

2. A prong device for use in the display or storage of merchandise, which device can be attached to an elongate substantially horizontal support member or members, comprising a generally C-shaped clip having apertures through those parts of the clip corresponding to the ends ofthe "C", and a prong having a proximal end or ends which can be inserted through those apertu res whereby such a support member can be held between that proximal end, or those proximal ends, and the part ofthe clip corres ponging to the centre ofthe "C", whilst allowing the

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **.

of the "C". Around three sides of the periphery of a rearface 16 ofthe C-shaped clip, there are L-sectioned strips 18 which define a channel around that periphery, the channel being open at two ends thereof on an intended upper side ofthe clip, to allow a card, having substantially the same dimensions as the rear face ofthe clip, to have its edges slid into the channel to be retained thereby.

One useful size of such a clip has parts 14with a length along the clip of 13/8 inch (35mm) and a width of 3/4inch (19mm) with 5/32 inch diameter holes (4mm diameter) having their centres spaced apart by 1 inch (25mm), the central part of it C-shaped part being 11/4 inches (32mm) by 13/8 inch (35mm).

Figure 4 shows a single-piece pre-tin-coated wire prong which is bent double at an intended free end 22 ofthe prong to provide two substantially parallel lengths 20 extending between the end 22, which is upturned, and a proximal end ofthe prong atwhich those two lengths of wire are bent downwardlyto provide two portions 24 which can be inserted through the holes 12 ofthe clip 10. To allow this, the wire is substantially 5/32 inch (4mm) in diameter, and the parallel lengths of wire 20 are spaced apart by substantially 1 inch (25mm). In the modified form of the prong shown in Figure 4a, there is an inverted U-shaped piece of wire 26 to the central upper part of which is spot welded one end 32 of a substantially straight length of wire 28 having an upturned free end 30.

Figure 5 shows a horizontal guide rail on which a prong and clip such as are shown in Figures 1 and 4 can be supported. The guide rail comprises two substantially parallel spaced apart straight lengths of wire 34 held together by short transverse lengths of wire 36 each of which are spot welded to the horizontal length 34. The transverse pieces of wire at the two ends ofthe guide rail are each provided with hooks 38 on an intended upper side ofthe guide rail for insertion into any selected one of a number of holes 40 spaced apart longitudinally along two vertical stems 42.

Figure 6 shows how the clip as shown in Figure 1 and a prong as shown in Figure4 can be assembled together on a guide rail as shown in Figure 5. After a card 44 bearing, for example, a brand or code number of a productwhich isto be supported on the prong, has been inserted in the channel 18, the clip is placed on the guide rail with the two horizontal lengths of wire 34 positioned snugly on the inside of the clip at respective corners where the centre part of the clip meets the two end parts 14.The downturned ends 24 ofthe prong are then inserted through the holes 12 in the clip 10so that not only is the prong held by the clip, but also, sincethe straight lengths wire 34 of the guide rail are nowtrapped between the centre partoftheclip

10 and the downturned ends 24 ofthe prong, the clip and prong assembly is held firmly on the guide rail, but not so firmly that the assembly can not be slid along the guide rail.

Awire guide rail is notthe only form of elongate horizontal support meansforthe prong and clip, and Figure 7 shows an alternative. It comprises a hollow extrusion 46 of synthetic plastics material or alumi nium, having an elongate cross-section 48 with dimensions which are similar to the outer dimensions of a cross-section through the guide rail shown in Figure 5. The extrusion may have a central longitudinally-extending web 50 to improve its rigidity. The clip shown in Figures 8a and 8b has a flat portion 52 from a rear side of which projecttwo circularly crosssectioned spigots 54 and on a front side of which is a U-shaped rib 54. The plate, rib and spigots may be moulded intregallywith one another.

Two such clips may be positioned on verticallyextending stems 42 having longitudinally-spaced holes 44 by means ofthe spigots 53 (not shown in Figure 9). The extrusion 46 may now have its ends slid into the mouths of the U-shaped ribs 54 and further downwardly until those ends restfirmly on the inside ofthe bases of the U-shaped ribs. A prong and clip assembly can then be located on the extrusion 46 in the same way as on the guide rail shown in Figure 5.

Figure 10 shows how a whole unit can be built up to support a number of prongs. The unit comprises an H-shaped base 56 which holds the bottom end of two vertically extending stems 42 across the other end of which extend a graphics card 58. At intermediate position, located in the manner described with referenceto Figure 5, are a number of horizontally extending guide rails 34 mounted on the upright stems 42. These guide rails 34 support a number of prongs 60. Figure loins very diagrammatic, and the prongs 60 may be of the construction shown in Figure 4, orofthe modified construction shown in Figure4a.

Figure 11 shows how an identity card 44 is inserted into the channel 18 ofthe clip 10, the card 44 here having substantiallythe same dimensions as the rear face 16 ofthe clip 10. In Figure 12, graphics card 52 has considerably larger dimensions, and can be attached to the clip 10 by means of a tongue 64 which is sufficiently narrowto allow itto be inserted between the parallel straight lengths 20 of a clip as shown in Figure 4 afterthe latter has had its ends 24 inserted into the holes 12 of a clip.

Itwill readily occurto persons skilled in the artthat many different colours and materials can be used for the clip shown in Figure 1, orthe prong shown in Figure 4 or4a, and also a variety of shapes and sizes could be used for both,the possibilities not being limited to those actually illustrated.

CLAIMS (filed on 19/5/83) 1. A prong device for use in the display or storage of merchandise, comprising a clip, and a prong which can be attached to the clip at the proximal end ofthe prong in such a mannerthat allows the device to be attached to an elongate substantially horizontal sup port member or members, and subsequently slid therealong.
2. A prong device for use in the display or storage of merchandise, which device can be attached to an elongate substantially horizontal support member or members, comprising a generally C-shaped clip having apertures through those parts of the clip corresponding to the ends ofthe "C", and a prong having a proximal end or ends which can be inserted through those apertu res whereby such a support member can be held between that proximal end, or those proximal ends, and the part ofthe clip corres ponging to the centre ofthe "C", whilst allowing the

prong device to be slid along such a support member.
3. A prong device according to claim 1 or claim 2, in which the clip comprises a synthetic plastics material.
4. A prong device according to claim 3, in which theclip is mouldedfromA.B.S., polycarbonate, acrylic, or glass or talc fil led nylon.
5. A prong device according to any preceding claim, in which the prong comprises wire.
6. A prong device according to claim 5, in which the prong is pre-tin-coated wire.
7. A prong device according to claim 5 or claim 6, in which the prong comprises a first length of wire bent into an inverted U-shape, and a second length of wire having one end spot welded to a centre portion of the inverted U-shape part of the prong.
8 A prong device according to claim 8, in which the said second length of wire is substantially straight but for an upturned free end thereof.
9. A prong device according to claim 5 or claim 6, in which the prong comprises a single length of wire which is bent double to havetwo substantially parallel straight parts.
10. A prong device according to claim 9, in which the end of the prong where thewire has been bent double is an intended free end ofthe prong and is upturned.
11. A prong device according to claim 9orclaim 10, in which the end ofthe prong opposite to that wherethe wire is bent double comprises parallel lengths of wire bent downwardlyto form the proximal end ofthe prong.
12. A prong device according to any preceding claim, in which a channel is formed around one face of the clip which is directedtowardsthefree end ofthe prong when the device is puttogether,for receiving a card on which graphics or other material has been printed.
13. Display orstorage means compring a prong device as claimed in any preceding claim attached to an elongate substantially horizontal support member comprising a carrier rail made from two substantially parallel lengths ofwire to which small transverse lengths ofwire are welded.
14. A prong device according to claim 2, in which the part ofthe clip corresponding to the centre ofthe "CL" has an outside face directed towards the free end ofthe prong.
15. Display or storage means comprising a prong device as claimed in any preceding claim attached to an elongate substantially horizontal support member comprising an elongate hollow extrusion of plastics o aluminium having an elongate cross-section.
16. A prong device substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1 to 4 with our without the modification shown in Figure4a of the accompanying drawings.
17. Display or storage means substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1 to 6with orwithout one or more ofthe modifications shown in Figures 7to 12orthe accompanying drawings.