GB2240580A

GB2240580A - Shelf edge clip

Info

Publication number: GB2240580A
Application number: GB9100129A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Christopher Hood
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1990-01-05
Filing date: 1991-01-04
Publication date: 1991-08-07
Also published as: GB9100129D0; GB9000266D0

Abstract

The clip comprises opposed planar side portions (1) hingedly connected by hinges (2) to a planar central body portion (3); each side portion (1) terminates in a planar cross-member (4) perpendicular to side portion (1), the cross member (4) providing a pair of flanges (5, 6) extending by different amounts in opposite directions away from the piano of said side portion (1) and abutment means (7) to act as stops to provide the necessary resiliency for the clip to be bent either way into a U-shape so that the flanges (5, 6) become parallel to the body portion (3). The U-shape is intended to engage a grooved rail (9, 11) with spaced apart grooves (10, 12) to accommodate the flanges (5, 6) whereby the distance (D) between the ends of the flanges (5, 5) to fit grooved rail (11) with grooves (12, 12) spaced apart a predetermined distance (D) is greater than the distance (d) between the ends of the flanges (6, 6) to fit a grooved rail (9) with grooves (10, 10) spaced apart a predetermined distance (d) which is less than distance (D). <IMAGE>

Description

TITLE Shelf Edge Clip The present invention relates to a shelf edge clip.

The clip is an essentially planar clip with planar cross-members at its ends. It is constructed so that it can be bent in opposite directions to form two different U-shapes which are adapted to fit grooved rails having grooves spaced at different intervals. In this way a single clip serves a dual function According to the present invention there is provided a shelf edge clip comprising opposed planar side portions hingedly connected to a planar central body portion each side portion terminating in a planar cross-member perpendicular to said side portion the cross-mez,ber providing a pair of flanges extending by different amounts in opposite directions away frorn the plane of said side portion, and abutment means to act as stops to provide the necessary resiliency for the clip to be bent either way into a D-shape so that the flanges become parallel to the central body portion, the said U-shape thereby being adapted to engage a grooved rail with spaced apart grooves which will accommodate the external flanges of the cross-members, wherein the clip can be bent into two different U-shapes whereby the distance between the ends of the external flanges of one U-shape to fit a grooved rail with grooves spaced apart a predetermined distance. is greater than the distance between the ends of the external flanges of the other Ushape to fit a grooved rail with grooves spaced apart a predetermined distance, which is less than the first said predetermined distance.Preferably the longer flanges at the ends of the clip extend away from the plane of said side portions in the same direction.

The central body portion may be provided with means1 for example an aperture, to secure another member thereto. The side portions may be provided with engaging means to enable a support element to engage with the engaging means. The engaging means may take the form of a keyhole slot adapted to engage a support element with a spade at an end of the support element and a hook at the other end of the support element.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention there is provided an assembly comprising a shelf edge clip as defined by the invention provided with engaging means in the side portions to enable a support element to engage with the engaging means and said support element therefor.

By way of example, preferred forms of the invention will now be described with reference to the accorapanvi ng drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a plan view of a shelf edge clip illustrative of the invention, Figure 2 is an end view of Figure 1, Figure 3 is a longitudinal section of the clip of Figure 1 showing also the two possible U shapes which can be assumed by the clip upon bending one way of the other, Figure 4a shows in perspective one U-shape assumed by the clip of Figure 1 showing a larger spacing between the ends of the external flanges, Figure 4b shows in perspective another U-shape assumed by the clip of Figure 1 showing a lesser spacing between the ends of the external flanges, FiR-ure 5 shows in perspective the two possible U shapes fitted into correspondingly grooved rails, Figure 8 shows in perspective a modified clip bent into a U-shape and fitted into a grooved rail, Figure 7 shows a perspective view of the clip of Figure 1, Figure 8 shows in perspective the clip of Figure 7 bent into a U-shape together with a supporting element for fixing to the clip, and Figure 9 shows in perspective the components of Figure 8 fitted together.

The drawings show a shelf edge clip having a planar central body portion 3 between opposed planar side portions 1. The side portions 1 are connected by hinges 2 to the central body portion 3. The hinges 2 may be made of a suitable plastics material such as high density po lyo lef ine, preferably polypropylene. Each side portion 1 terminates in a planar cross-member 4 providing a pair of flanges 5, 6 extending by different amounts in opposite directions away from the plane of the side portion 1. Thus it will be seen that flanges 5 are longer than flanges 6. Abutment means are provided in the form of four stops 7 to provide the necessary resiliency for the clip to be bent either way into a Ushape so that the flanges 5, 6 become parallel to the central body portion 3.

Figures 4a and 4b illustrate the two possible Ushapes which may be assumed by bending the clip one way or the other as indicated by the curved double arrow.

It will be seen that the two U-shapes are different; figure 4a shows a U-shape with a spacing D between the ends of the external flanges which is greater than spacing d between the ends of the external flanges 6 for the U-shape of Figure 4b. This can be more readily appreciated by referring to Figure 3 where the dark parts of the figure indicate the clip in planar form whereas the light parts of the figure to the right correspond to the U-shape of Figure 4b and the light parts of the figure to the left correspond to the U-shape of Figure 4a.

The U-shapes of Figures 4a and 4b are adapted to engage a grooved rail 9,11 with spaced apart grooves 10,12 as seen in Figure 5. Such a grooved rail 9 or 11 is often referred to as a ticket rail. Figure 5 shows to the left the U-shape of Figure 4b with its smaller spacing d fitted into a grooved rail 9 with grooves 10 spaced apart by a corresponding distance. Figure 5 shows to the right the U-shape of Figure 4a with its larger spacing D fitted into another grooved rail 11 with grooves 12 spaced apart from one another to a larger extent than for the grooved rail 9. Thus the clip serves a dual function, depending on which U-shape is adopted.

The drawings show that the longer flanges 5 extend in one direction and the shorter flanges 6 extend in the opposite direction. In this way differences between distance d and D can be better controlled and regulated.

The clip shown in Figure 7 corresponds to that shown in Figure 1. Figure 8 shows the clip of Figure 7 bent into a U-shape together with a support element 15 which may be made of metal having a hook 18 at one end and a spade 16 at the other end for engagement with a keyshaped slot 17. The element is passed through both slots 17 in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 8 and upon rotation of the element 15 as indicated in Figure 9 by the curved arrows the element can be secured in the upper slot 17 as shown in Figure 9 by engagement with the spade 16. The element 15 can be easily released from the clip by rotating it as shown by the arrows in Figure 9.

All of the figures except Figure 6 show a central hole 13 in the body portion 3. Such a hole is to enable another suitable fitting to be riveted thereto if desired.

Figure 6 shows a modified form of clip in that teeth 14 are provided for mounting suitable display material, e.g. 0.5mum thick projecting signs at right angles to the grooved rail 9.

The clip illustrated in the drawings is conveniently made of suitable plastics material and is especially useful for fitting to both 32mum (USA size) ticket rails and 40mm (European size) ticket rails corresponding to distances d and D respectively.

Claims

1. A shelf edge clip comprising opposed planar side portions hingedly connected to a planar central body portion, each side portion terminating in a planar crossmember perpendicular to said side portion, the crossmember providing a pair of flanges extending by different amounts in opposite directions away from the plane of said side portion, and abutment means to act as stops to provide the necessary resiliency for the clip to be bent either way into a U-shape so that the flanges become parallel to the central body portion, the said U-shape thereby being adapted to engage a grooved rail with spaced apart grooves which will accommodate the external flanges of the cross-merobers, wherein the clip can be bent into two different U-shapes whereby the distance between the ends of the external flanges of one U-shape to fit a grooved rail with grooves spaced apart a predetermined distance, is greater than the distance between the ends of the external flanges of the other Ushape to fit a grooved rail with grooves spaced apart a predetermined distance which is less than the first said predetermined distance.

2. A shelf edge clip according to Claim 1, wherein the longer flags at the ends of the clip extend away from the plane of said side portions in the same direction.

3. A shelf edge clip according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the central body portion is provided with means to secure another member thereto.

4. A shelf edge clip according to Claim 3, wherein the said means comprises an aperture.

5. A shelf edge clip according to any preceding claim, wherein the side portions are provided with engaging means to enable a support element to engage with the engaging means.

6. A shelf edge clip according to Claim 5, wherein the said engaging means take the form of a keyhole slot adapted to engage a support element with a spade at an end of the support element and a hook at the other end of the support element.

7. A shelf edge clip according to Claim 5, wherein the said engaging means comprise teeth.

8. A shelf edge clip substantially as herein, described with reference to Figures 1 and 5 and 7 to 9 of the accompanying drawings.

9. A shelf edge clip substantially as herein described with reference to Figure 6 of the accompanying drawings.

10. An assembly comprising a shelf edge clip as defined in any one of Claims 1 to 4, wherein the side portions are provided with engaging means to enable a support element to engage with the engaging means, and said support element therefor.

11. An assembly according to Claim 10, wherein the said engaging means take the form of a keyhole slot adapted to engage a support element with a spade at an end of the support element and a hook at the other end of the support element.

12. An assembly of shelf edge clip and support element therefor substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 8 and 9 of the accompanying drawings.