GB2390214A

GB2390214A - Quantity display means

Info

Publication number: GB2390214A
Application number: GB0215056A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Dan Barrett
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-06-28
Filing date: 2002-06-28
Publication date: 2003-12-31
Also published as: GB0215056D0

Abstract

Display means 1 for displaying the quantity of objects in a stack of objects, e.g. cigarette packets, having a biassing means 3 to bias the objects in one direction, comprises a moveable elongate measure element 2 which is provided with a display scale 10. The display scale comprises increments 11 corresponding to the size of the objects. The elongate measure element is movable by the biassing means so that the display scale increment is visible in a display view portion and it corresponds to the number of objects in the stack of objects. The elongate measure element may be a belt, moved about a front and rear spindle (31, 32 fig 2) having the belt ends 6 and 7 connected to a moveably mounted plate 8. The biassing means may be a coil spring 3 connected at one end to the inner end of the belt 6 and the other coil spring end to the back of the shelf.

Description

Display Means This invention relates to a display means which is

particularly, but not exclusively applicable for displaying the number of cigarette packets on a shelf.

Cigarettes packets are commonly displayed in a shop or other premises in a large rack of shelves. The shelves are divided into sections for each brand of cigarettes, which are dimensioned to receive a predetermined number of cigarette packets stacked one before another. At the end of a day's trading, or other appropriate time, it is necessary to count the number of packets of cigarettes left on the shelf to keep an accurate record of sales, and to prevent theft or fraud.

However, cigarette packet shelves as described can house hundreds of packets of different cigarettes.

Further, it can be difficult or impossible to view the number of cigarette packets in each section of the shelf because the dimensions of the sections can be only slightly larger than the packets themselves. It therefore takes a great deal of time to individually count the number of packets in each partitioned section, and to take a record of the numbers present.

The present invention is intended to provide an alternative approach.

According to the present invention display means for displaying the quantity of objects in a stack of objects which is provided with biasing means to bias the objects in one direction, comprises a movable elongate measure element, which is provided with a display scale comprising increments corresponding to the size of the

( -2- objects, and a display view portion, in which the elongate measure element is movable by the biasing means so that the display scale increment shown in the display view portion corresponds to the number of objects in the stack of objects. In a preferred construction the objects are cigarette packets in a stack of cigarettes packets, although it will be appreciated that the objects can be of any kind.

In one embodiment the display means displays the number of cigarette packets in a row of cigarettes packets positioned upright and disposed one before another on a shelf. The shelf can be one of the known type of shelves which are provided with a spring loaded biasing element to push the cigarette packets to the front of the shelf. The biasing element can be a plate which is shaped and dimensioned to be disposed to the rear of a cigarette packet. The elongate measure element can be a belt, or a component of a like construction, which is disposed around a spindle at the front of the shelf. The belt can be connected to the biasing plate so as the plate moves along the shelf the belt moves around the spindle, thereby displaying the different figures on the scale.

The display view portion can be the area of the belt which is exposed at any one time at the front of the shelf around the spindle. The area of the display scale on view corresponds to the number of cigarette packets in the shelf. In an alternative embodiment the display scale shows the number of cigarette packets which have been

( -3 removed from the shelf. With both these arrangement when a cigarette packet is removed from the shelf, the biasing means moves the packets forward, and rotates the belt -

around the spindle, so the next unit on the scale is shown.

It will be appreciated that the spring loading of the above described embodiment can be fitted to any part of the mechanism. For example, in one preferred construction a coil spring is fitted between the rear end of the belt and the back of the shelf. With this arrangement the biasing plate is pulled towards the front of the shelf via the belt which is disposed around the spindle.

In an alternative embodiment spindles can be provided at either end of the shelf, and the belt can be disposed around both. In this embodiment the biasing plate is spring loaded independent of the belt, by means of a flat spiral spring mounted at one end at the front of the -

shelf, and the other end to the rear of the biasing plate.

Spindles as described above can be provided with bearings to assist their rotational movement.

The invention can be performed in various ways, but one embodiment will now be described by way of example and -

with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: -

Figure 1 is an exposed perspective view of a display means according to the present -

invention; and, Figure 2 is a cross-sectional side view of an alternative display means according to the present invention.

( -4- In Figure 1 a display means 1 for displaying the quantity of cigarette packets in a stack of cigarette packets t not shown) comprises an elongate measuring belt 2, and a spring 3, which is adapted to bias the cigarette packets towards the front 4 of the shelf 5. One end 6 of the belt 2 is attached to the spring 3, while the other 7 is attached to a biasing plate 8, via a spindle 9.

The belt 2 is disposed underneath the cigarette packets (not shown), and is provided with a display scale 10 which comprises increments 11 which correspond to the width of a cigarette packet.

A display view portion 12 is provided at the front 4 of the shelf 5, by means of the belt 2 being disposed around the spindle 9.

With this arrangement the biasing plate 8 is pulled to the front 4 of the shelf when no cigarette packets are placed before it. In this configuration the plate 8 rests against a lip (not shown) provided at the front 4 of the shelf 5. The plate 8 is movably mounted in slots 13 and 14 so it can move back and forth along the shelf 5.

When cigarette packets are present on the shelf 5, they are pushed forward against the lip (not shown) by the resilience of the spring 3. The belt 2 is so disposed that the increment 11 shown at the display view portion 12 corresponds to the number of packets on the shelf 5.

In Figure 2 an alternative display means 20 is also for displaying the quantity of cigarette packets in a stack 21 of cigarette packets on a shelf 22. The shelf 22 is provided with a spring loaded biasing mechanism 23 of a known type. The mechanism comprises a plate 24 mounted in slots 25 (only one visible), and a flat spiral spring 26,

- s - one end of which is mounted in a boss 27 adjacent the front 28 of the shelf 22, and the other end of which is mounted in a coil to the back of the plate 24. The cigarette packets 21 sit on top of the slots 25, and are pushed against a lip 2g provided at the front 28 of the shelf 22.

When one packet is removed, the rest are pushed forward again, so the stack 21 is always at the front of the shelf. The display means 20 is constructed around the biasing mechanism 23. The display means comprises an elongate measuring belt 30, provided with a measuring scale (not visible) comprising increments corresponding to the width of a packet of cigarettes, a front spindle 31 and a rear spindle 32. The belt 30 is attached at one end 33 to the front of the plate 24, and at the other end 34 to the back of the plate 24. The display means is provided with a display view portion 33 at the front 28 of the shelf 22, by virtue of the belt 30 being disposed around the front spindle 33.

When cigarette packets 21 are present on the shelf 22, they are pushed forward against the lip 29 by the resilience of the spring 26. The belt 30 is so disposed that the increment (not visible) shown at the display view portion 33 corresponds to the number of packets on the shelf 22.

Thus a display means is provided which provides information on the number of packets of cigarettes on a shelf. Therefore, the numbers of packets of cigarettes which have been sold can be readily read from the front of the shelves.

Claims

-6 Claims

1) Display means for displaying the quantity of objects in a stack of objects which is provided with biasing means to bias the objects in one direction, comprising a movable elongate measure element which is provided with a display scale comprising increments corresponding to the size of the objects, and a display view portion, in which the elongate measure element is movable by the biasing means so that the display scale increment shown in the display view portion corresponds to the number of objects in the stack of objects.

2) Display means according to Claim 1 in which the objects are packets of cigarettes.

3) Display means according to Claim 2 in which the packets of cigarettes are disposed upright and placed one before another on a substantially level platform.

4) Display means according to Claim 3 in which the platform is a shelf.

5) Display means according to Claim 4 in which the biasing means is adapted to bias the packets of cigarettes towards the front of the shelf.

6) Display means according to Claim 5 in which the biasing means comprises a movably mounted plate connected to resilient means, in which the plate is shaped and dimensioned to be disposed to the rear of a packet of cigarettes.

( -7 7) Display means according to Claim 6 in which the elongate measure element is a belt.

8) Display means according to Claim 7 in which the belt is disposed around spindle means at the front of the shelf. 9) Display means according to Claim 8 in which the belt is connected to the plate, so the belt is moved about the spindle means when the plate is moved.

10) Display means according to Claim 9 in which the display view portion is provided by means of the portion of the belt which is in contact with the spindle means and is exposed towards the front of the shelf.

11) Display means according to Claim 10 in which the area of the display scale on view at the display view portion corresponds to the number of packets of cigarettes on the shelf.

12) Display means according to Claim 10 in which the area of the display scale on view at the display view portion corresponds to the number of packets of cigarettes removed from the shelf.

13) Display means according to Claim 11 or 12 in which the resilient means is a coil spring connected at one end to the inner end of the belt, and at the other to the back of the shelf, so that the plate is held in tension via the belt. 14) Display means according to Claim 11 or 12 in which rear spindle means is provided at the back of the shelf, and the belt is disposed around it.

-8 15) Display means according to Claim 14 in which the belt is connected at one end to the front of the plate, and at the other end to the back of the plate.

16) Display means according to Claim 15 in which the resilient means is a flat spiral spring mounted at one end to a mounting adjacent the front of he shelf, and at the other end to the back of the plate.

17) Display means according to Claim 16 in which the spindles are provided with bearings.

18) Display means substantially as described herein and with reference to the accompanying drawings.