GB2266401A

GB2266401A - Shelf label holder.

Info

Publication number: GB2266401A
Application number: GB9206589A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Roy Garrad Griffiths
Original assignee: CLARES EQUIP Ltd; CLARES REGISBROOK SYSTEMS
Current assignee: CLARES EQUIP Ltd; CLARES REGISBROOK SYSTEMS
Priority date: 1992-03-25
Filing date: 1992-03-25
Publication date: 1993-10-27
Anticipated expiration: 2012-03-25
Also published as: GB9206589D0; GB2266401B

Abstract

A label holder (1) is adapted to be mounted on the front edge of a shelf (2). The label holder (1) is an elongate extrusion (3) which displaceably engages the shelf edge along upper and lower edges (4, 5) to define a space (6) within which a display label (8) is located behind a clear portion (9) of the extrusion (3) so that the display label (8) is visible through the portion (9). The extrusion (3) provides a protective cover and a window to the display label (8). In addition, since the extrusion (3) displaceably engages the shelf edge a display label (8) can both conveniently and quickly be positioned at any point along the length of the extrusion and so the shelf edge. One of the edges of the extrusion may be adapted for pivotal connection to the shelf-front, and the other edge for snap-fit connection to said shelf-front. Channel (10) may carry a plurality of conductive tracts (15) for electronic labels. These tracks may be integral with a strip, such as a self-adhesive tape (16). 2 <IMAGE>

Description

SHELF LABEL HOLDER This invention relates to a holder for shelf labels, such as may be used to display the price and other information about goods on the shelves in a supermarket. The holder is particularly intended for use with electronic label devices, but the invention is not limited in this respect.

Conventionally, pre-printed paper or plastic strip labels have been used to display information about the goods along the front edge of the shelf.

These strip labels are mounted in a holder which is secured to the shelf-edge. The holder generally comprises an elongate plastic or aluminium extrusion having upper and lower continuous recesses in which the longitudinal edges of the strip labels are seated.

The label height, i.e. the strip width, is generally somewhat greater than the spacing of the recesses so that the label has to be flexed in order to be fitted to the holder.

There has been considerable interest in recent years in the replacement of pre-printed labels with electronic label devices. Such devices enable the information displayed to be changed very rapidly under computer control to reflect, for example, changes in price or description of the goods on the shelf. Naturally enough, a number of the electronic labelling systems which have been proposed make use of the existing label holders. However, for a variety of reasons, these conventional holders are not particularly suited to supporting the new electronic labels.

Unlike the paper and plastic strips, the electronic labels are not, in general, flexible, since the display panel generally needs to be housed in a protective plastic moulding. The housing inevitably adds to the bulk of the label device, but does permit mounting of the device on a conventional holder by means of a snap-fit or a slideable coupling. If a snap-fit connection is used, there is a risk that individual label devices, spaced apart along the shelf edge, will become detached, whether by accident or from the curious fingers of young children. If a slidable coupling is used, then the retrieval of an individual device for replacement or repair is difficult.

Furthermore, whichever way the label devices are mounted on the holder, they will inevitably be considerably more obtrusive than the conventional strip labels. From the store owner's viewpoint this is undesirable for at least two reasons. First, the label devices are somewhat delicate and therefore vulnerable to damage, for example, from collisions with shopping trolleys or being knocked as goods are taken off the shelf. This is a particularly important consideration because electronic labels obviously must have a very much longer life than the pre-printed labels they are intended to replace. Second, the aesthetic appearance of the new labels is important to customer acceptance. A discontinuous row of bulky devices along the shelf-edge is thus undesirable.

A further problem is that electronic label devices generally require local wiring for the supply of power and/or control signals. Whilst it has been proposed to locate conductors for this purpose within the two recesses of the holder, this idea presents considerable practical difficulties.

The present invention was developed in the light of the aforementioned problems and aims to provide for the support of display labels along a shelf-front in a manner which offers good protection from damage whilst enabling the labels to be removed, replaced or re-arranged in a quick and convenient manner.

In accordance with a first aspect of the invention, a shelf label holder comprises an elongate extrusion having two longitudinal edges adapted for displaceable attachment of the holder to a shelf-front to define, when so attached, a substantially closed space between the holder and the shelf-front, and means for supporting one or more display labels in a releasable manner within said space behind a seethrough cover portion of the extrusion.

In accordance with a second aspect of the invention, a shelf label holder assembly comprises a shelf label holder as aforesaid and an elongate mounting member which is securable to a shelf-edge and adapted for displaceable attachment of the shelf label holder.

In accordance with a third aspect of the invention, a shelf assembly comprises a shelf label holder as aforesaid and a shelf having a longitudinal edge adapted for displaceable attachment of the shelf label holder.

Preferably, the means for supporting one or more display labels comprises a wall which extends longitudinally within the extrusion and projects into said space to define a channel for receiving an edge of the or each display label.

In order to accommodate electronic display labels, said channel preferably carries a plurality of conductive tracks for the supply of power and/or control signals. The plurality of tracks may be carried by said wall and may be provided on a strip, such as a self-adhesive tape, secured within the channel. Alternatively, the plurality of tracks may be provided within recesses formed in the channel.

The conductive tracks are preferably adapted to make pressure contact with contacts on an electronic display label.

The extrusion may be opaque in the vicinity of said channel so as to hide the track connections and other parts of the display label which need not be visible.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention one of the two longitudinal edges of the extrusion is adapted for pivotable connection to the shelf-front. The other edge may be adapted for snap-fit connection to the shelf-front as the holder is swung into position about the pivot point. Alternatively, separate fastening means may be used. The pivot connection itself may also be a snap-fit. The pivot connection enables the holder to be swung away from the shelffront, whilst still attached thereto, permitting access to a label held within the channel.

Preferably, in use, the display labels are presented, for ease of reading, in a plane which is inclined relative to the plane of the shelf.

The cover portion of the extrusion may have a flat or convex outer surface.

Two embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a sectional view of a shelf label holder in accordance with a first embodiment; Figures 2 and 3 are sectional views of modifications of the holder of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a sectional view of a shelf label holder assembly in accordance with a second embodiment; and Figure 5 is a sectional view of a modification of the assembly of Figure 4.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 shows a label holder 1 fitted to the front edge of a shelf 2. The holder 1 comprises an elongate extrusion 3, suitably of plastics material. The extrusion 3 is adapted so as to be displaceably attachable to the shelf 2 at upper and lower edges 4, 5 to define, when so attached, a substantially closed spaced between the extrusion 3 and the front edge 7 of the shelf. One or more display labels 8 are located within the space 6 behind a clear portion 9 of the extrusion 3 through which the display area of label 8 is visible. This portion 9 of the extrusion thus provides a combined protective cover and window for the label. Other portions of the extrusion 3 may be opaque so as to conceal the inner structure of the holder and the non display areas of the label. As shown, the cover portion 9 has a convex outer surface, although this is not essential.

The display label 8 is supported behind the cover portion 9 by means of a channel 10, in which the lower edge of the label 8 is seated. The channel 10 is formed in part by a wall 11 which extends longitudinally within the extrusion and projects into the space 6. The upper edge of the label 8 is held in the narrow gap 12 between the extrusion and the shelf edge 7.

The upper part of the holder is secured to the shelf front by means of a pivot connection. For this purpose, the extrusion 3 has an upper rim 4 of substantially circular cross-section which is located within a complementary curved recess 13 formed at the upper-end of the shelf front 7. The rim 4 may be a snap-fit within the recess 13. Alternatively, there may be a sliding fit which requires the rim 4 to be inserted from one end of the shelf.

The lower part of the holder is secured by means of an upwardly-projecting edge 5 of the extrusion 3 which provides a snap-fit connection to the lower edge 14 of the shelf front. For this reason, the extrusion preferably comprises a resilient material.

It will be apparent that the holder can be quickly and conveniently released by flexing the lower edge of the extrusion to enable the holder to be displaced from its normal position by a swing action, in a clockwise direction as shown, about the upper pivot connection. This facility permits ready access to the labels 8 for removal or replacement as required.

With a suitably profiled shelf-front, the pivot connection could be provided at the lower edge of the extrusion, so that the holder is swung open in a downward, anticlockwise direction to gain access to the display labels.

It will be appreciated that the holder can accommodate electronic label devices, conventional pre-printed labels or a combination of both types of label. Since the pre-printed labels will normally be considerably thinner than their electronic counterparts, it may be necessary to use an adaptor for holding conventional labels to reduce the effective thickness of the support channel 10.

As already mentioned, the shelf label holder of the present invention is particularly intended for use with electronic label devices. For this purpose, the channel 10 carries a plurality of conductive tracks 15 for the supply of power and/or control signals to the label devices held in the holder. The tracks 15 are suitably carried on the wall 11 of the channel 10.

The tracks may be integral with a strip, such as a self-adhesive tape 16, secured to the wall 11.

Alternatively, the track conductors may be buried in recesses formed in the wall 11 or another part of the channel 10.

Electrical connection between the tracks and each label device is established by pressure contact between the tracks and corresponding contacts on the device which are brought into mutual alignment when the device is inserted into the channel 10. Thus, electrical connection to the label device is established automatically at any position along the holder. End caps can be fitted over the ends of the extrusion to conceal the wiring connections to the tracks 15 and to generally improve the appearance of the holder.

Figures 2 and 3 illustrate modifications of the holder of Figure 1. In Figure 2, the holder 1 is secured to the lower edge of the shelf front 14 by a clip 17 which is located about a pip or ridge 18 formed on the lower edge of the extrusion 3. In Figure 3, the inclined face 7 of the shelf front terminates in a lower edge 20. The extrusion 3 has a snap-fit connection over the edge 20 by virtue of a recess formed between the wall 11 and an outer lip 19.

In all the above-described arrangements the labels are presented in a plane which is inclined for ease of reading, in like manner to conventionally mounted strip labels.

The holders shown in Figures 1 to 3 are intended for mounting on a shelf which has been fabricated by a roll-forming process so as to provide the necessary engagement surfaces for the upper and lower edges of the extrusion. Figure 4 illustrates a holder assembly in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention. The assembly comprises a holder extrusion 3, similar to that of the first embodiment, and an elongate mounting member 21 which can be secured, for example, using clips 22, to the vertical front edge 26 of the shelf 2. The mounting member 21 provides engagement surfaces for displaceable attachment of the holder 3 by means of an upper pivot connection 24 and a lower snap-fit connection 25. The mounting member 21 may be a plastic or metal extrusion. Preferably, the member 21 provides an upper surface 23 which effectively forms a horizontal extension of the shelf 2.This surface 23 gives the assembly an aesthetically pleasing appearance. The assembly is in other respects essentially identical to the holder arrangement of Figure 1. Thus, the holder 3 can be swung open about the pivot connection 24 to the position indicated by the dotted lines to permit access to the display labels (not shown). In Figure 5, the holder extrusion 3 differs from the other designs in that the cover portion 9 is flat rather than convex.

It can be seen, therefore, that each of the described embodiments provides a shelf label holder which can be manufactured cheaply from lightweight plastic material, enables display labels to be quickly and conveniently removed and replaced, and offers a protective cover which reduces the risk of damage to electronic labels. Furthermore, the provision of conductive tracks within the support channel 10 ensures reliable, automatic electrical connection to an electronic label device at any position along the length of the holder.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A shelf label holder comprising an elongate extrusion having two longitudinal edges adapted for displaceable attachment of the holder to a shelf-front to define, when so attached, a substantially closed space between the holder and the shelf-front, and means for supporting one or more display labels in a releasable manner within said space behind a seethrough cover portion of the extrusion.

2. A shelf label holder according to claim 1, wherein said means for supporting one or more display labels comprises a wall which extends longitudinally within the extrusion and projects into said space to define a channel for receiving an edge of the or each display label.

3. A shelf label holder according to claim 2, wherein said channel carries a plurality of conductive tracks for the supply of power and/or control signals to electronic display labels supported at positions along the holder.

4. A shelf label holder according to claim 3, wherein said plurality of tracks are carried by said wall.

5. A shelf label holder according to claim 3 or claim 4, wherein said plurality of tracks are provided on a strip which is secured within the channel.

6. A shelf label holder according to claim 5, wherein said strip comprises a self-adhesive tape.

7. A shelf label holder according to claim 3 or claim 4, wherein said plurality of tracks are provided within recesses formed in said channel.

8. A shelf label holder according to any one of claims 3 to 7, wherein said conductive tracks are adapted to make pressure contact with contacts on an electronic display label.

9. A shelf label holder according to any one of claims 2 to 8, wherein said extrusion is opaque in the vicinity of said channel.

10. A shelf label holder according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein one of said two longitudinal edges of the extrusion is adapted for pivotable connection to said shelf-front.

11. A shelf label holder according to claim 10, wherein the other of said two longitudinal edges is adapted for snap-fit connection to said shelf-front.

12. A shelf label holder according to claim 10 or claim 11, wherein said one longitudinal edge is adapted for snap-fit connection to said shelf-front.

13. A shelf label holder according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, in use, the or each display label is inclined relative to the plane of the shelf.

14. A shelf label holder according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said cover portion of the extrusion has a convex outer surface.

15. A shelf label holder assembly comprising a shelf label holder in accordance with any one of the preceding claims and a mounting member which is securable to a shelf-edge and adapted for displaceable attachment of said shelf label holder.

16. A shelf assembly comprising a shelf label holder in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 14 and a shelf having a longitudinal edge adapted for displaceable attachment of said shelf label holder.

17. A shelf label holder comprising an elongate strip for attachment along the front edge of a display shelf, and having means for releasably holding one or more display labels behind a transparent cover portion of said strip, said strip being adapted so as to be displaceable, when so attached, to provide access to the rear side of the holder.

18. A shelf label holder substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings.

19. A shelf label holder assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawings.

20. A shelf assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings.