US2994147A - Changeable price indicator - Google Patents

Description

l1gl, 1961 A. H. BERGIER ETAL 2,994,147

CHANGEABLE PRICE INDICATOR Filed June 25, 1958 [31 51 55 31m as INVENTORS ,4p/Yao fr. 5696/6@ /Vfwr//Y UMA/mfr United States Patent O 2,994,147 CHANGEABLE PRICE INDICATQR Arnold Henry Bergier, New York, and Martin Umanoli', Huntington, N.Y., assgnors, by mesne assignments, to Leonard Cole, North Haven, Conn.

Filed June 25, 1958, Ser. No. 744,551 1 Claim. (Cl. 413-86) This invention relates generally to sign exhibitors, and has particular reference to a changeable price indicator for use in retail establishments,

It is a general object of the invention to provide an improved and time-saving means for designating the prices of commodities displayed in stores, especially selfservice markets. A more particular objective is to achieve this result by means of a simple and conveniently usable device which is attractive in appearance and inexpensive to manufacture `and is provided with means whereby any of a large variety of price indications may be displayed.

One of the features of the improved device is an improved means for readily attaching it to a vertical support, especially (if desired) to the grooved molding commonly mounted on the front edges of store shelves to hold price cards. It is common practice in super-markets and similar establishments to price-mark products on display by clamping selected cards within a molding of this kind. The placement and replacement of such cards is a timeconsuming and costly procedure, since it requires that a large assortment of cards be kept constantly on hand, and involves much handling and rehandling of the cards as a result of which they are readily soiled and damaged, or lost. An objective of this invention is to supplant this unsatisfactory system by the provision and use of a device which remains clean and effective for indeiinitely long periods, and which is so constructed that the prices to be displayed may be rapidly and expeditiously changed by authorized personnel as often as may be desired without any storage or replacement of cards or tickets, or other problems of the type heretofore encountered.

The improved price indicator consists essentially of a chamber having a front vertical window, and a series of spindles arranged in parallel pairs within the chamber, there being a ribbon (with price indicia on one face) wound on each spindle pair and extending from one to the other along a span lying directly behind the window and visible through it. The features of the invention include the simplied and low-cost manner in which the chamber `and its enclosed parts are made and assembled, the improved and eicient way in which the device may be supported, and the ease with which the price-indicating display may be altered.

The preferred way of achieving the objects and benefits of the invention, and such other objects and advantages as may hereinafter appear or be pointed out, is illustratively exemplied in the device shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- FIG. l is a front elevational view of a price indicator of the improved type, shown in operative position within a molding on the front edge of a shelf;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is `an enlarged horizontal cross-sectional view along the line 3--3 of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 4 and 5 are enlarged vertical cross-sectional views along the lines 4-4 and 5 5, respectively, of FIG. l;

FIG. 6 is an extended view of the assembly of a pair of spindles and the ribbon to be wound thereon; and

FIGS. 7 and 8 are cross-sectional views along the lines 7--7 and 8-8, respectively, of FIG. 6.

The indicator chosen for illustration has been shown supported in clamped relation between the opposed grooves 10 of a metal molding strip 11 of conventional kind, secured by screws or other fasteners 12 (FIG. 4) to the front edge of a shelf 13. This is the type of molding within which separate numbered cards or tickets are commonly supported for price-indicating purposes.

The device shown comprises a chamber having a substantially rectangular front vertical window 14, top and bottom walls arranged in parallel horizontal planes, end Walls 15, and a rear wall 16 parallel to the window 14. The top and bottom walls are provided with aligned circular apertures dening bearings for a series of spindles 17 arranged in parallel pairs within the chamber. For convenience of manufacture and assembly, the bearings in the top and bottom Walls are formed along lines of cleavage 18 (see FIGS. 2 and 3), i.e., the rear part 1.9 of the top wall (FIG. 2) and the rear part 20 of the bottom wall (FIG. 3) are formed as a unit with the rear wall 16, while the front part 21 of the top wall and the front part 22 of the bottom wall are formed as a unit with the front window 14. The front edges of the rear parts 19 and 20 are provided with semi-circular notches which register with similarly positioned notches in the rear edges of the front parts 21 and 22, to form the bearings for the spindles 17.

The rear wall 16 has lateral extensions 23 projecting beyond the end walls 15. These end walls 15 are preferably forrned as a unit with the window 14. They need not necessarily extend rearwardly at right angles to the front window 14 but may if desired diverge or curve rearwardly. At their rear ends they are formed with lateral parts 24 which lie flatwise over the rear wall extensions 23 and are secured thereto by eyelets 25. If desired, the parts 24 may extend beyond the extensions 23, as best indicated in FIG. 1 and at the left of FIG. 3, to define areas on which trademarks or other indicia may be displayed.

It is not necessary that there be any transparency in any wall other than the front window 14, but it may be convenient to make the unit consisting of the parts 14, 15, 21, 22 and 24 of a single piece of molded transparent glass or plastic.

As stated, the spindle 17 are provided in pairs. In the device shown there are three such pairs. In FIGS. 6-8 a pair of spindles, with the ribbon associated with them, are shown by themselves. Each spindle has a fiat body 26 and opposite circular spindle ends 27. Adjacent to each end is a ange or enlargement 28 defining a kind of washer. The entire spindle may be formed of a single molded piece of appropriate plastic. The length is such that when the spindle is journaled in the parallel top and bottom walls of the chamber (see FIG. 4) the flanges 28 will lie in contact with the inner faces of the supporting walls and the end surfaces of the spindle ends 27 will be llush with the outer faces of these walls. Accidental contacts with the spindle ends are thus avoided, and tampering by unauthorized persons is made somewhat diicult. For authorized personnel, however, the spindle end (at at least one end) is formed so as to be engageable for rotation from the exterior of the chamber. For this purpose the spindles shown are provided with slots designed to receive the end of la small screw driver. Obviously special formations engageable only by special keys or tools may be employed if desired.

A ribbon 29 is secured at its opposite ends to the spindles of each pair. As best shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, an ordinary staple 30 may be used for this purpose. The ribbon may be of any suitable material and of any co-nvenient length. On its exposed face it is provided with price indicia 31. The ribbon is wound upon the spindles so as to extend from one to the other along a span which lies parallel to and directly behind the window 14, as shown at 32 in FIGS. 3 and 4.

In assembling the device, each pair of spindles 17 is first associated with a ribbon 29 as shown. These pairs are then inserted into proper parallel disposition Within the rear parts 19 and Ztl at the top and bottom Walls, and the front part of the chamber is then brought into position and the eyelets or similar fasteners 25 are applied to secure the parts in firmly closed relationship. In this condition the chamber completely enclo-ses the parallel pairs of spindles thus protecting them and the ribbons they carry. Soiling and deterioration from exposure are thus electively guarded against.

To secure the device to a vertical support, nails or screws or other fasteners may be caused to extend through the eyelets 25 or through other parts of the lateral Wings dened by the overlying parts 23, 24. in order to permit the application of the device to a molding 11 of the grooved type shown, a clamping element 33 in the form of -a dat metal strip may be pivoted to the eyelet 25 so that it may be moved between the dotted and full-line positions indicated at the right end of FIG. l. In the full-line position the element 33 projects laterally from the attachment Wing which carries it so that it may be brought into clamping engagement with the adjacent groove of the molding 11 (see FIG. 4). A second similar element 34 is secured in position between the overlying parts 23, 24 and projects laterally in the opposite direction for engagement With the opposite groove 1t). The element 34 need not be movably supported.

In order for the displayed ribbon spans 32 to be eiective to maximum degree, it is desirable that the Window 14 be provided with relatively opaque areas between the regions directly in front of the spans 32. One convenient Way of doing this is to roughen or knurl the front face of the window 14 as shown in the areas 35. This effectively conceals the spindle mountings and makes the displayed indicia appear as though there were separate cards involved.

The alteration of the display is relatively simple, as will be understood, since it is merely necessary to rotate any selected appropriate spindle to Withdraw the displayed marking and replace it by another. This can be done quickly Without dismounting or dismantling the device, and requires no cumbersome or time-consuming handling of cards or other costly and ineihcient procedure.

Obviously, there may be fewer or more than three pairs of spindles. Also, under certain circumstances the spindles might be arranged with their axes horizontal and the device might be mounted with its long axis vertical. Also, the rear wall might be omitted, and the bearings for the spindles might be formed in other Ways. It is to be understood that these and other changes in the design and arrangement of the parts may be made by those skilled in the art Without necessarily departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

In a changeable price indicator, a chamber having a front vertical window and parallel top and bottom walls, said Walls having aligned opening-s defining spindle bearings, `at least one pair of spindles within said chamber and journaled in said bearings, and an indicia-bearing ribbon Wound on the spindles and extending from one to the other along a span directly behind said window, said chamber being formed of two parts abutting along a vertical plane bisecting said spindle bearings, said chamber parts having overlying areas defining Wings extending laterally from the rear of the chamber, and provided with means which hold said parts together.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,472,193 Poirier Oct. 30, 1923 1,473,035 Gottfried Nov. 6, 1923 2,334,083 Greenwald et al Nov. 9, 1943 2,765,553 Audette Oct, 9, 1956 2,787,433 Slavsky Apr. 2, 1957

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