GB2207539A

GB2207539A - Adjustable display device

Info

Publication number: GB2207539A
Application number: GB08717698A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Philip Matthew Osborne
Original assignee: Orion Design & Display Ltd
Current assignee: Orion Design & Display Ltd
Priority date: 1987-07-25
Filing date: 1987-07-25
Publication date: 1989-02-01
Anticipated expiration: 2007-07-25
Also published as: GB8717698D0; GB2207539B

Abstract

An adjustable clip-on display device comprises an assembly of a display element 1, such as a price ticket holder, and a clip element 2. The display element 1 is a plastics moulding having a main body with a back portion 4 and two rear abutment portions 5. The clip element 2 is moulded from flexibly resilient plastics material with two opposed limbs 9 and 11 joined through a curved intermediate portion 13 which is engaged between the back portion 4 and the rear abutment portions 5 of the display element in order to support the latter. The outer surface of the intermediate portion 13 has a ribbed/grooved retaining formation 14 engaged hy the back portion 4 of the main body of the display element 1 to retain and support the latter in an adjusted position around the intermediate portion 13 of the clip element 2. The display element 1 is adjusted around the clip element 2 by a ratchet-like action. The ribs 14 may be on the inner surface of the portion 13 instead, Figs 5-8 (not shown). <IMAGE>

Description

"ADJUSTABLE DISPLAY DEVICE" The invention relates to display devices, and in particular to "clip-on" devices presenting a display element. The display element may, for example, be a ticket holder adapted to hold a replaceable price ticket or the like.

Such devices in the form of clip-on ticket holders are commonly used in connection with goods on display in retail establishments, being either clipped on to the articles themselves 'or on to adjacent support elements, for example to article display shelves. However, achieving an appropriate orientation of a ticket holder can present difficulties, and the final choice of location and orientation is often a far from satisfactory compromise.

The invention provides a clip-on display device which is conveniently in the form of a ticket holder, and which enables the orientation of the display element to be adjusted relative to the clip of the device.

According to the invention a clip-on display device comprises an assembly of a display element and a clip element, the clip element being formed from flexibly resilient material with two opposed limbs joined through a curved intermediate portion which is engaged between the main body of the display element and a rear abutment portion thereof to support the display element, either the outer or the inner surface of said intermediate portion having a series of grooves, projections, notches or other formations engageable by either said main body of the display element or the rear abutment portion thereof to retain the display element in an adjusted position along the intermediate portion.

Preferably the clip element is moulded from a suitably flexible and resilient plastics material, for this moulding a very suitable material being polycarbonate. One limb of the clip element may be relatively thick and also somewhat thicker than said intermediate portion thereof, the other thinner limb thus mainly flexing to provide the resilient "clip" action. A ribbed or grooved retaining formation of the intermediate portion is preferably employed, and this ribbing or grooving may extend part-way along said one or thicker limb, so that in a limit position the display element lies against this one limb.

The main body of the display element may comprise a frame-like ticket holder into which a price ticket or the like can be slipped, and a generally plane back section of the holder may be moulded with a through slot overhung by said abutment portion which is rearwardly spaced from the general plane of the back portion. The abutment portion may be one of two such portions which respectively overhang the two ends of the slot. The retaining formation may be a series of parallel ribs on the external surface of the intermediate portion of the clip element, with the inter-rib spaces selectively engage able by the opposite side edges of the through slot. Alternatively, retention may employ a series of grooves on the inner surface of the intermediate portion, these grooves being selectively engageable by the abutment portion(s) of the display element.In either case the display element can be moved along the intermediate portion with a ratchet-like retaining action.

The display element is preferably symmetrical about said abutment portion or portions, so that it is reversible with respect to the clip element and assembly consists of threading said thinner limb of the clip element through between the main body of the display element and the abutment portion(s) thereof.

The invention will now be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate, by way of example, two preferred embodiments of the invention.

In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a front perspective view of one display device providing an illustrative embodiment of the invention; Fig. 2 is a rear perspective view thereof; Figs. 3 and 4 are sectional views on the line A-A in Fig. 1 showing alternative adjusted positions of a display element of the device; and Figs 5 to 8 are respectively views similar to those of Figs. I to 4 but showing another illustrative embodiment of the invention.

In each case the display device illustrated is an assembly consisting of a moulded plastics display element 1 and a moulded plastics clip element 2, at least the latter of which is moulded from a flexibly resilient material such as polycarbonate. The display element 1 has a main body comprising a a three-sided frame portion 3, a plane back portion 4 and two rear abutment portions 5. The abutment portions 5 extend inwardly at each end of a through slot 6 moulded in the back portion 4, these portions 5 overhanging the ends of the slot 6 and being spaced rearwardly of the general plane of the back portion 4.

The frame portion 3 of the display element 1 comprises parallel side members 3a disposed slightly forwardly of and aligned with the side edges of the back portion 4. A bottom frame member adjoining the back portion 4 provides a ledge 7 on which a price (or other) ticket which is not shown can rest when inserted in front of the back portion 4 with its side edges behind the side members 3a. The latter have rear location ribs 8 between which the ticket is located laterally when inserted in the display element.

The clip element 2 of each embodiment comprises a relatively thick limb 9 with a flat inner surface 10, and a thinner and relatively flexible limb which is inclined towards, and has a convexly curved inner end surface 12 which opposes, the surface 10 of the thicker and relatively rigid limb 9. The limbs 9 and 11 of the clip are joined through an intermediate portion 13 of slightly less thickness than the limb 9 but thicker than than the limb 11. The device can be clipped to a supporting article or element, for example a display shelf, which is resiliently gripped between the surfaces 10 and 12, with the limb 11 (and the portion 13 to a lesser extent) flexing to open the gap between the limb 9 and 11 for fitting of the clip.

In the first embodiment of Figs. 1 to 4 a series of parallel and lateral ribs 14 are moulded on the outer convex surface of the intermediate portion 13 over the full extent of the portion 13. The series of ribs 14 is continued for a short distance along the limb 9 as similar ribs 15. The rear surface of the back portion 4 has, on each side of the slot 6, a series of parallel grooves 16.

On each side the innermost groove 16 leaves an edge formation 17 or 18 which engages in one of the groove-like spaces between two adjoining ribs 14. This engagement retains the display member 1 in an adjusted position along the intermediate portion 13 which is gripped between the edge formations 17,18 and radiused nose portions 19 of the abutment portions 5 which engage the smooth inner surface of the intermediate portion 13.

When the clipped-on position of the device has been decided, the orientation of the display element 1 can be suitably adjusted by moving it around the curved intermediate portion 13. During such movement the parts flex to provide a ratchet-like adjustment action, with the edge formations 17,18 clicking from space to space between the ribs 14. Two different adjusted positions are respectively illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, and at one limit position the display element lies against the limb 9, with the ribs 15 of the latter engaging the corresponding grooves 16 in the element 1. It will be noted that the ribs 15 and grooves 16 are each four in number.

During assembly of the device the curved inner end of the flexible limb 11 of the clip element 2 is passed through between the abutment portions 5 and the back portion 4 of the display element 1. It can be passed through either way, the display element 1 thus being reversibly mounted on the clip element 2. In this connection it will be noted that the groove formation 16 is identical on each side of the slot 6 in the display element 1.

The two mouldings 1 and 2 of the second embodiment of Figs. 5 to 8 are identical to those of the first embodiment described except for the retaining formation. Instead of the external ribs 14 and 15, the intermediate portion 13 and limb 9 of the clip portion 2 have spaced parallel internal grooves 21 and 22. These fulfil the same function, providing ratchet-like adjustment with retention by engagement of the abutment nose portions 19 with one of the grooves 21 and 22. With these internal grooves 21,22 there is no longer any requirement for the grooves 16 in the back portion 4, and they are accordingly omitted. In this case the edges 17 and 18 of the slot 6 engage, and for adjustment slide along, the smooth outer convex surface of the intermediate portion 13. Two different adjusted positions of the display element 1 are again shown, in this case in Figs. 7 and 8 respectively.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A clip-on display device comprising an assembly of a display element and a clip element, the clip element being formed from flexibly resilient material with two opposed limbs joined through a curved intermediate portion which is engaged between the main body of the display element and a rear abutment portion thereof to support the display element, either the outer or the inner surface of said intermediate portion having a series of grooves, projections, notches or other retaining formation engaged by either said main body of the display element or the rear abutment portion thereof to retain the display element in an adjusted position along the intermediate portion.

2. A display device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein one limb of the clip element is relatively thick as compared with the other limb thereof and is also somewhat thicker than said intermediate portion, whereby the resilient "clip" action is mainly provided by flexing of said other or thinner limb.

3. A display device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a ribbed or grooved retaining formation of the intermediate portion is employed.

4. A display device according to claim 3, wherein said ribbed or grooved formation is on the outer surface of said intermediate portion.

5. A display device according to claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the ribbing or grooving providing said ribbed or grooved formation extends part-way along one of the two limbs of the clip element, so that in a limit position the display element lies against this one limb.

6. A display device according to claim 2 and claim 5, wherein the limb along which the ribbing or grooving extends is said one thicker limb of the clip element.

7. A display device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said main body of the display element comprises a frame-like ticket holder into which a price ticket or the like can be slipped.

8. A display device according to claim 7, wherein a generally plane back section of the ticket holder is moulded with a through slot overhung by said abutment portion which is rearwardly spaced from the general plane of the back section.

9. A display device according to claim 8, wherein the abutment portion is one of two such portions which respectively overhang the two ends of said slot.

10. A display device according to claim 8 or claim 9, wherein the retaining formation of the clip element is a series of parallel ribs on the external surface of the intermediate portion of that element, with the inter-rib spaces selectively engageable by the opposite side edges of the through slot so that for adjustment the display element can be moved along the intermediate portion of the clip member with a ratchet-like action.

11. A display device according to claim 8 or claim 9, wherein the retaining formation of the clip element is a series of grooves on the inner surface of the intermediate portion, these grooves being selectively engageable by the abutment portion(s) of the display element in such manner that for adjustment the display element can be moved along the intermediate portion of the clip member with a ratchetlike action.

12. A display device according to claim 8 or claim 9, wherein the display element is symmetrical about said abutment portion or portions, so that it is reversible with respect to the clip element.

13. A display device according to claim 2 and any one'of claims 8 to 12, wherein the arrangement is such that assembly of the device consists of threading said thinner limb of the clip element through between the main body of the display element and the abutment portion(s) thereof.

14. A display device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the clip element is moulded from a flexible and resilient plastics material.

15. A display device according to claim 14, wherein the plastics material is polycarbonate.

16. A display device constructed and arranged substantially as herein particularly described with reference to Figs. 1 to 4, or Figs. 5 to 8, of the accompanying drawings.