WO2012112115A1

WO2012112115A1 - Adapter

Info

Publication number: WO2012112115A1
Application number: PCT/SE2012/050170
Authority: WO
Inventors: Håkan Sjödin
Original assignee: Pricer Ab
Priority date: 2011-02-17
Filing date: 2012-02-16
Publication date: 2012-08-23
Also published as: SE1150127A1

Abstract

The invention relates to an adapter (103) for attaching an electronic shelf label ESL, (100) in a securely fixed position on a surface or a holder (107) at a display location. It comprises an adapter body having a front surface and a back surface. It has an attachment area on said front surface onto which said ESL, can be fixed. There is also provided a locking mechanism for securing the adapter, having said object attached, at said display location.

Description

Adapter

Technical field of the invention

The present invention relates generally to display systems for display of

information, in particular on shelves in stores, or on other surfaces. More particularly it relates to an adapter for existing electronic shelf labels so as to enable securing such devices in a manner that prevents tampering or removing without a special tool.

Background of the invention

Electronic labelling systems are used all over the world, in particular in large facilities, for displaying information like price etc. for services and items available for customers.

Some known electronic labelling systems comprise an Electronic Shelf Label (ESL) and a shelf edge rail. The shelf edge rail is often permanently mounted onto the shelf, and then the ESL is attached to the shelf edge rail. A problem with most systems available today, is that the ESL can be easily removed from the shelf edge rail by anyone, whereas it is desired that the ESL is easy to remove from the shelf edge rail only by a person authorized to do so, to avoid the loss of ESLs by theft or vandalism.

The same problem exists also for other types of display devices such as "talkers", i.e. passive devices which are attached to a surface and displays information to a customer. It is desirable that also such device be difficult or impossible to remove without use of special tools.

A solution to the problem of unauthorized tampering is presented in WO

2010/ 107367 and WO 2010/ 107366. These applications relate to tamper-proof locking mechanisms for shelf labels. However, the solution disclosed is directed to providing dedicated labels matching the rails on which they are to be mounted. Other labels cannot be attached to these rails in a tamper-proof manner.

Summary of the invention

The object of the present invention is to overcome at least some of the drawbacks of the prior art. This object is achieved by an adapter as defined in claim 1 , namely an adapter for attaching an electronic shelf label ESL in a securely fixed position on a surface or a holder at a display location.

The adapter is defined in claim 1.

According to the invention an adapter comprises an attachment area for receiving an electronic shelf label in a securely fixed position at a display location and having a locking mechanism for releasably securing an ESL to a holder, a surface or a special shelf rail.

Embodiments are defined in the dependent claims. Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of examples of embodiments of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and claims.

Brief description of the drawings

Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein

Fig. 1 a) illustrates an adapter and a shelf edge rail separated from each other and b) the adapter when a gripping element is inserted into a mating recess on the shelf edge rail, and brought to an inner position.

Fig. 2 a) illustrates the adapter in a locked position, and b) in a position where a retractable spring loaded element is retracted back into its recess within the adapter, so that the adapter may be removed from the shelf edge rail.

Fig. 3 a) illustrates the adapter locked to the shelf edge rail with a positioning element and its mating slot in one position, and b-c) the adapter locked to the shelf edge rail with a positioning element and its mating slot in another position.

Fig. 4 illustrates embodiments of the invention wherein the retractable spring loaded element locks the adapter to the shelf edge rail in a separate recess.

Fig. 5 a) and b) illustrates embodiments of the invention wherein the gripping means and the receiving means are directed to minimize collection of dust and other particles, and c) illustrates an embodiment of the invention wherein the gripping means of the adapter is formed as a recess, and the receiving means on the shelf edge rail is a protruding hook-like element, and d) illustrates a holder having a substantially flat backside surface.

Fig. 6 a) illustrates an adapter locked to a holder, b) illustrates a side view of one example of a free-standing holder, and c) illustrates a front view of the free-standing holder and d) illustrates a longitudinally extending shelf edge rail.

Fig. 7 a) illustrates an adapter adapted for a b) plate-like holder.

Fig. 8 a) illustrates an adapter adapted for a b) plate-like holder and c) shows a side view of a simple adapter and d) shows a side view of a simple plate like holder.

Fig. 9 a) illustrates a side view of a tongue element attached to a locking mechanism, and b) illustrates side view of a tongue element integrated in a locking mechanism, and c) illustrates a top view of a tongue element integrated in a locking mechanism and d) illustrates a tongue element that has two movable ends and e) illustrates a tongue element attached to the locking mechanism at two positions and that has a flexible mid section.

Fig. 10 a illustrates an embodiment of an adapter according to the invention and an ESL during insertion, and b shows the adapter with an ESL attached;

Fig. 1 1 a and b illustrates another embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 12 shows an adapter to which an ESL can be attached by gluing;

Fig. 13 shows an adapter to which an ESL can be attached by snap-fitting between two rims;

Fig. 14 shows an adapter to which an ESL can be attached by housing the ESL within a confinement; and

Fig. 15 shows an adapter to which an ESL can be attached by gluing at a front surface leaving no other components then the ESL visible from the front side.

Detailed description of embodiments

According to the invention there is provided an adapter for enabling secure fixing of an object to e.g. a shelf or any surface. The adapter is provided with a locking mechanism that has been disclosed in published International Patent Application WO 2010/ 107367 Al , the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety. The object to be fixed is an electronic shelf label (ESL), that should be difficult to remove from its location.

The principle of the mechanism disclosed in '367 is illustrated in Figs. 1-3 taken from said published application, which show one embodiment of said mechanism, but herein reference is made to an adapter rather than to en ESL, Thus, a locking mechanism is used for releasably securing an adapter to a surface or holder at a display location, which in '367 is disclosed in terms of attaching the adapter to said display location 10. The holder can be a rail or a holder or any surface having the necessary features of the invention. Thus, an adapter is provided with at least one gripping means 120 for cooperative engagement with said display location 10. A spring loaded locking element 105, movable between a protruded position and a retracted position, is arranged on the adapter for cooperative engagement with said shelf edge rail. At the display location 10 there can be attachable a holder, or a rail e.g. to the edge of a shelf, having one or more receiving means 20 such as slots for receiving said gripping means 120 and said locking element 105 in cooperative engagement, or the display location 10 itself can be provided with such means. The spring loaded locking element 105 is arranged and positioned on the adapter such that the spring loaded locking element 105 cannot enter the receiving means 20 on said display location 10 during insertion of the gripping means 120 into the receiving means 20, and such that it enters the receiving means 20 by spring action when the gripping means 120 is brought into a hooked position, in said receiving means 20. Thereby, the spring loaded locking element 105 prevents removal of the adapter from the display location 10 unless the spring loaded locking element 105 is retracted from its receiving means 20 and allows for the gripping means 120 to leave its hooked position. In this way, the locking mechanism can be placed in an unlocked position and a locked position, respectively.

The display location can itself be a shelf edge rail 10, a free-standing holder, a plate holder, or any other holder adapted to receive an adapter according to the

invention.

During insertion of the gripping means 120 into its mating receiving means 20, the spring loaded locking element 105 is pushed into the adapter and finally reaches a state where it is substantially completely retracted inside the adapter,

counteracting and loading the spring. When the gripping means 120 has reached an end position in the receiving means 20, and is brought into a hooked position in said receiving means 20 by sliding it down into the recess (or up as in the embodiment of Fig. 3c), the spring loaded locking element 105 is released from its inserted state, and enters the receiving means 20 by spring action. Thereby, the spring loaded locking element 105 prevents removal of the adapter from the shelf edge rail 10 unless the spring loaded locking element 105 is retracted from the receiving means 20 and thereby allows for the gripping means 120 to leave its hooked position.

The gripping means 120 provided on the adapter for cooperative engagement with the receiving means 20 on the shelf edge rail 10 is preferably generally hook- shaped, for grasping the receiving means 20 on the shelf edge rail 10. The gripping means 120 may have an "L"-shape, a more rounded hook-shape, or any other hooklike shape suitable for securely grasping a receiving means 20. The spring loaded locking element 105 arranged on the adapter will together with the gripping means 120 interact with the receiving means 20 on the shelf edge rail 10 while the gripping means 120 due to its hook- shaped cross-section can be adapted to hook on to the receiving means 20 on the shelf edge rail 10.

The gripping means 120 on the adapter may be extended along the entire backside of the adapter, forming a ledge or rim like structure, or it may cover only one section or a plurality of sections. The hook- shaped gripping means 120 may be arranged to hook onto the receiving means 20 such that the gripping means 120 mate with the receiving means 20.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the adapter in addition to the locking mechanism also comprises a positioning element 140 (Fig. 4). The

positioning element 140 can be arranged anywhere on an adapter surface, such that during attachment to an display location 10, 400, 410, it abuts the display location 10, 400, 410 wherein a mating surface of said display location 10, 400, 410 comprises a positioning element slot 40. The positioning element 140 secures the adapter sideways with respect to the display location 10, 400, 410, thereby forcing the adapter into a fixed position onto said display location 10, 400, 410. The positioning element 140 can be a pin placed somewhere on the mating surface of the adapter. The positioning element slot 40 is placed somewhere on the mating surface of the display location 10, 400, 410. The positioning element 140 and the positioning element slot 40 are arranged at their respective mating surface such that they mate when the adapter is assembled onto the display location 10, 400, 410, and different positions of the positioning element 140 and the positioning element slot is illustrated in Figs. 3-5 and 7-8. It is also possible to place the positioning element 140 on the display location 10, 400, 410, and the positioning element slot 40 somewhere in the mating surface of the adapter, as long as the positioning element 140 and the positioning element slot are adapted to mate when mounting the adapter to the display location 10, 400, 410. The spring loaded locking element 105 and the positioning element 140 may also be the same element.

The spring loaded locking element 105 is suitably arranged on the adapter such that it abuts the shelf edge rail 10 and will be forced inwards into a mating recess of the adapter, during the action when the gripping element 120 is inserted into the mating recess on the rail, and brought to an inner position illustrated in Fig. lb. Subsequently, when the gripping element 120 is brought to a hooked position in the receiving means 20, the spring loaded locking element 105 snaps into the receiving means 20 by spring action, thus securely locking the adapter to the shelf edge rail 10 until the spring loaded locking element 105 is forced back into the recess of the adapter. Fig. 2a shows the locking mechanism with the spring loaded locking element 105 in a locked position. Fig. 2b shows a position wherein the spring loaded locking element 105 is forced back into the recess of the adapter, enabling removing the adapter from the shelf edge rail 10.

In order to enable retracting the spring loaded locking element 105, magnetic means are provided. Namely, according to the invention, the spring loaded locking element 105 is magnetic, or the locking mechanism comprises a magnetic element 195 which is attached to the spring loaded locking element 105. Said magnetic element 195 may be a ferromagnetic element. The magnetic element 195 is mounted onto the springloaded locking element 105 such that it can be affected by an external magnet 300. By letting the magnetic field from the external magnet 300 act on the magnetic element 195 in the locking mechanism, the locking element 105 is moved from its locked position to its unlocked position, thereby releasing the adapter from the shelf edge rail 10, illustrated in Fig. 2b where the magnet 300 attracts the magnetic element 195 on the spring loaded locking element 105.

Normally, the external magnet 300 and the magnetic element 195 has a north and a south pole, and different poles attract each other whereas like poles repel each other. Thus, as the external magnet is placed adjacent to the adapter as shown in Fig. 2b, it attracts the magnetic element 195 attached to the spring loaded locking element 105 and retracts it from the recess by magnetic forces. In this embodiment the spring loaded locking element 105 can be displaced outwards and retracted inwards in a direction perpendicular to abutting surfaces of the adapter and the shelf rail edge 10, and said spring loaded locking element 105 is moved to an unlocked position as it is attracted towards the external magnet 300.

It is also possible to use the repelling force of the magnet as mechanism to unlock the locking mechanism, by placing a magnetic element comprising a north and a south pole onto the spring loaded locking element 105, and orient it such that the repelling force from the external magnet pushes the locking element 105 back into its recess, allowing for the gripping means to exit its hooked position and

subsequently remove the adapter from the display location.

It is also within the scope of the invention to provide a mechanical solution to move the spring loaded locking element 105 from a locked position to an unlocked position. That can be done in many ways. One way is to arrange a hole in the adapter adapted to receive a key or a tool, and by rotation, or through pressure, from outside adapter, move the spring loaded locking element 105 from its locked position to its unlocked position.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the spring loaded locking element 105 enters a dedicated recess, and not the receiving means 20 adapted to receive the gripping means 120. The enclosing forming the dedicated recess can be formed and integrated within the shelf edge rail 10 as shown in Fig. 4b-c, or it can be formed by the cooperative engagement between the shelf edge rail 10 and a protecting element 180 on the adapter as shown in Fig. 4a.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the spring loaded locking element 105 comprises a resilient element 190 attached to the adapter and having at least one movable section, illustrated in Fig. 9a-e. A magnetic element 195 may be mounted on said movable section. The resilient element 190 may be a resilient tongue element 190, having one free movable end or free movable section, and being attached to the adapter in one end. The resilient tongue element 190 may also be attached to the adapter in both ends, having a flexible and movable mid- section as illustrated in Fig. 9e. Said resilient tongue element 190 may also be attached to the adapter in the mid- section of the tongue, so as to exhibit two flexible and movable ends, illustrated in Fig. 9d. The magnetic element 195 will then be placed on the flexible and movable section/ -s of the resilient tongue element 190.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the retractable and spring loaded locking element 105 is directly affected by the movement of the magnetic element 195 attached to the movable section of the resilient element 190. When the magnetic element 195 is exposed to a magnetic field, it moves the locking element 105 together with the movable section of the resilient element 100, from a locked position to an unlocked position, enabling removal of the adapter from the shelf edge rail 10. The locking mechanism can be mounted onto the adapter or integrated in the adapter. In addition, parts of the locking mechanism may be integrated in the adapter, and other parts may be assembled onto/in the locking mechanism.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the shelf edge rail 10 comprises at least one receiving element 20 adapted to receive the protruding element of the locking mechanism and/ or the adapter, the latter combination herein referred to as the adapter . The receiving means 20 may be a recess adapted to receive the protruding element of the adapter. The recess may, in a cross- sectional view, be "L"- shaped, have a rounded hook- shape, or any other hook- like shape suitable for securely holding the gripping means 120 of the adapter. The receiving means 20 on the shelf edge rail 10 may also be a protruding hook- like element, adapted to receive the protruding element of the adapter. The receiving means 20 may also be a combination of at least one recess and at least one protruding element.

In another embodiment of the present invention, illustrated in Fig. 5a-b, the gripping means 120 of the adapter are hook-like with the hook pointing upwards, and the receiving means 20 on the shelf edge rail 10, adapted to receive the gripping means 120, are shaped accordingly to be able to hold the adapter. In this embodiment, dust and other dust-like particles does not get trapped inside the gripping means 120. In addition, the gripping means 120 is easy to clean, and dust may even fall out of the gripping means 120 by gravitational forces.

In one embodiment of the present invention, referring to Fig. 5c, the gripping means is formed as a recess in the adapter, and the receiving means 20 on the shelf edge rail 10 is a protruding hook- like element. In this embodiment, the spring loaded locking element 105 is arranged inside the recess. In Fig. 5d illustrates an display location 10, 400, 410 having a flat backside surface. Thus, this display location 10, 400, 410 can be directly attached to a wall, a container, cardboard box or any other surface onto which it can be attached using fastening means, like for example glue.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the at least one recess is an elongated recess, extending in the longitudinal direction of the shelf edge rail 10, having a generally "L"-shaped cross-section, The leg of the "L" extends essentially

perpendicularly to the surface of the shelf edge rail 10, and the foot of the "L" extends essentially perpendicularly to the leg inside the shelf edge rail 10. The length and width of the leg and the foot of the "L" in the adapter and the shelf rail edge 10 can be varied as long as the gripping means 120 of the adapter is adapted to match the receiving means 20 of the shelf edge rail 10.

In one embodiment of the present invention, illustrated in Fig. 6a and d, the shelf edge rail 10 comprises two recesses, adapted to receive the adapter. The recesses have an "L"-shaped cross-section, and are adapted to receive the hook-like gripping means 120 on the adapter. The retractable and spring loaded locking element 105 is arranged adjacent to one of the gripping means 120 on the adapter, and enters the recess of the shelf edge rail 10 upon locking.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the shelf edge rail 10 is subdivided in sections, thus the receiving means 20 is not continuous along the said shelf edge rail 10. Each section of said shelf edge rail 10 may be adapted to comprise one or a plurality of ESLs 100.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the display location 400 is a freestanding holder 400 illustrated in Fig. 6b and 6c. The free-standing holder 400 comprises an adapter attachment surface with receiving means 20, the attachment surface being mounted to at least one foot 25, which supports the free-standing holder 400, and makes it self- supported on a substantially flat surface. The freestanding holder 400 may also be placed on sloped surfaces if for example glued, such that it is secured in a fixed position. The foot 25 may also function as a wall- mount, if angled differently with respect to the part of the free-standing holder 400 where the adapter is attached. Said free-standing holder can be made of a plastic material, a composite or a metal, although not restricted to those materials.

Referring to Fig. 6d, there is no specified length on the shelf rail edge 10. Said shelf rail edge 10 can be longitudinally extending and adapted to fit onto a shelf edge of any length. The ends of the shelf rail edge 10 may be open, or closed. The longitudinally extending shelf rail edge may also comprise positioning element slots 40 adapted to receive positioning elements 140 of the adapter. The positioning element secures the adapter to a specific position on the shelf edge rail 10, and prevents said adapter from being slid sidewise.

In yet another embodiment of the present invention, shown in Fig. 7a-b and 8a-b, the display location 410 comprises a plate-like holder 410 comprising at least one receiving means 20, adapted to receive the gripping means 120 of the adapter. The plate-like holder 410 can be made of plastic, composite or a metallic material. Said plate-like holder 410 comprises slots 40 for receiving a positioning element 140 of the adapter, securing said adapter at a substantially fixed position. The plate-like holder 410 can be placed onto a shelf edge rail 10, or it may be attached directly to a shelf edge or the like. It is to be understood by a person skilled in the art, that the plate-like holder 410 is very flexible, and may be used in a wide range of labelling applications without leaving the scoop of the invention. The receiving means 20 on the plate-like holder 410, will be adapted to mate with the gripping means on the adapter. The plate-like holder 410 can also be attached to an object, like for example merchandise, or attached to for example a wall using fastening means. The adapter may actually be directly attached to virtually anything, as long as receiving means 20 are provided. Thus, the adapter may be attached directly onto a box like for example a cardboard box, as long as the receiving means is formed onto the box. The receiving means 20 on the plate-like holder 410 can be a slot.

In an alternative aspect the adapter and display location 10, 400, 410 combination comprising a locking mechanism for releasably securing the adapter to said display location 10, 400, 410, has a mounting member which comprises an essentially flat adapter attachment surface. This could be a rail or a holder of any of the types disclosed above. The adapter has locking elements 105 for securing it against said essentially flat mounting surface of said mounting member. The mounting member has receiving slots provided in said essentially flat adapter attachment surface for receiving said locking elements 105. Furthermore, the locking elements 105 comprise a first spring-loaded and retractable member insertable in a respective slot, and a second fixed member having a hook-like shape insertable in a respective slot and enabling positioning of said fixed member in a hooked position from which it cannot be retracted. The relative position of said slots are such that during insertion of the fixed member in its respective slot the retractable member is located above or below its respective slot and thus not insertable therein, and when the fixed member has been brought into its hooked-on position, said retractable member snaps into its respective slot.

A person skilled in the art will realize without inventive work, that the inverted solution, that is, letting the locking mechanism and/or the gripping means be part of the display location 10, 400, 410, and letting the adapter comprise the receiving means 20 is an obvious modification, and thus considered to fall within the scope of the present invention.

A preferred embodiment of the adapter according to the invention is shown in Figs. 10- 12 and will now be described in some detail.

The adapter 103 comprises an adapter body having a front surface 103' and a back surface 103". The front surface comprises an attachment area on which an object 100 such as an ESL can be attached by suitable means, such as gluing, soldering, welding, screwing, bolting, snap-fitting.

Fig. 10a shows how an ESL 100 is attached to an adapter 103 by a snap-fit coupling. The snap-fit coupling comprises protruding members 101 , 102 on the ESL, mating with recesses formed in rims on the adapter, and Fig. 10b shows the adapter 103 having an ESL attached to it. The hook shaped gripping means 104a, 104b are clearly shown. Here the "L" shaped hooks point upwards. Also, the locking element 105 is shown. In this particular embodiment there is a dedicated recess 106 in the mating surface at the display location means 107 for receiving said locking element 105.

Here, the ESL is locked in place by a snap-fit comprising horizontally extending rims with recesses, the rims being provided on the upper and lower edges, respectively of the adapter. Of course it would be equally possible, and within the inventive concept to use vertically extending rims with recesses at the side edges of the adapter, and having the corresponding elements 101, 102 provided on the side edges of the ESL (not shown) .

The lower gripping means ("hooks") 104b are in this embodiment used for fixing the adapter side-ways at the display location, in this case to a rail. This is achieved by providing a slot 40 in which the gripping means fits precisely, similar to what was disclosed in connection with Fig. 8b.

In Figs. 1 1- 15 an ESL 100 is shown in "phantom" contour lines.

Fig. 1 1a and b shows the ESL attached to the adapter, in another embodiment wherein the rail 107' has a different design. Here the lower part of the rail profile 107' is "inverted" compared to the embodiment in Fig. 10.

In Fig. 12 there is illustrated an embodiment wherein the adapter has an essentially flat front surface 120. This surface is suitable for attaching e.g. an ESL by gluing or by using double-sided adhesive tape or the like. On the upper edge of this front surface, there is outwardly extending portion 122 housing a locking mechanism, of the type described previously.

In Fig. 13 a still further embodiment is shown. Here an ESL is attached by snapping it in place between an upper 130 and a lower 132 rim or ledge, having a "hook" like cross-section. The upper rim 130 is provided as an extension of a portion housing the locking mechanism, like in the embodiment according to Fig. 12. Suitably these rims 130, 132 are resilient, e.g. by being made of some stiff but slightly resilient polymer material such that they can be bent apart for insertion of the ESL, and then return back to the original position, thereby locking the ESL in place. This embodiment will not be tamper free in the sense that it will require some special tool to remove it. Of course it would be possible to use glue to secure an ESL between the rims too.

Fig. 14 illustrates a further embodiment wherein the adapter comprises a cartridge like confinement space 140. Here the ESL is slid in place from the side. Thus, either the front surface 142 need to be transparent, or it will simply have an opening such that the ESL display will be visible there through. Also in this embodiment a locking mechanism for securing the adapter is provided within an upper portion of the adapter, like in the embodiments of Figs. 12- 13. Also in this case glue could be used for securing the ESL.

Finally, in Fig. 15 an embodiment is shown wherein the adapter is designed such that the attachment surface 150 extends also over the portion where the locking mechanism is provided. In this way only the object itself, such as an ESL 100, will be exposed outwards, and there are consequently no other parts of the adapter visible when an observer looks at it. This can be achieved either by making the entire adapter much thicker, i.e. equally thick as the portion 122 housing the locking mechanism, or by providing a frame (not shown) around the periphery of the adapter on which the object, e.g. an ESL 100 can be attached, suitably by gluing or adhesive tape.

It is also within the inventive concept to provide an adapter and holder

combination, comprising an adapter 103 and a holder 107; 107' having a surface forming a display location. The holder comprises receiving means 106, 40 on the surface at said display location and is adapted to receive gripping means 104a, 104b provided on the adapter, said gripping means having a hook-shaped cross- section. Preferably, in the combination at least some of said receiving means 40 are formed as a plurality of slots in which the gripping means fits precisely, so as to fix the adapter side- ways at the display location.

While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments. On the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent

arrangements within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. Adapter (103) comprising an attachment area for receiving an electronic shelf label in a securely fixed position at a display location, characterized by an adapter body having a front surface (103¹) and a back surface (103"); a locking mechanism for locking the adapter, having said electronic shelf label attached, at said display location, wherein said locking mechanism comprises; at least one gripping means (104a, 104b) provided on the adapter for cooperative engagement with a receiving means (106, 40) on the surface at said display location; a spring loaded locking element (105), movable between a first protruding position and a second retracted position, and arranged on the adapter for

cooperative engagement with a receiving means (106, 40) on the surface at said display location, a magnetic element which is cooperatively engaged with the spring loaded locking element (105), said gripping means (104a, 104b) has a hook-shaped cross-section and is adapted to hook into said receiving means (106, 40); said spring loaded locking element (105) is arranged on the adapter such that it abuts the surface at said display location and will be forced inwards into a recess of the adapter, counteracting the spring force, during insertion of the gripping means (104a, 104b) into the receiving means (106, 40), and such that it snaps into the receiving means (106, 40) by spring action when the gripping means (104a, 104b) is positioned in a hooked position in said receiving means (106, 40), and further comprising a snap-fit locking mechanism adapted to secure an object to said attachment area, wherein said snap-fit locking mechanism comprises an upper (130) and a lower (132) resilient rim on the adapter.

2. The adapter in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the locking mechanism comprises a magnetic element which is attached to the spring loaded locking element (105).

3. The adapter in accordance with claim 1 or 2, wherein the spring loaded locking element (105) further comprises a resilient member (190) having at least one movable section and being attached to the adapter and wherein the magnetic element being placed on at least one movable section of said resilient member.

4. The adapter in accordance with claim 3, wherein the resilient member (190) is a resilient tongue element (190), having at least one free movable section, and being attached to the adapter, the magnetic element being attached to the at least one movable free section.

5. The adapter in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the locking element consists of a magnetic element.

6. The adapter in accordance with any one of the claims 1 to 5, wherein the magnetic element will force the retractable and spring loaded locking element (105) from a locked position to an unlocked position when exposed to a magnetic field, enabling removal of the adapter from the surface at said display location.

7. The adapter according to any one of the claims 1 to 6, wherein a positioning element (140) is provided on the adapter to secure the adapter sideways in relation to the surface at said display location.

8. The adapter according to claim 7, wherein the positioning element (140) and the locking element (105) is the same element.

9. The adapter as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the attachment area comprises protruding rim portions extending along two parallel edges of the adapter for supporting an object to be attached.

10. The adapter as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said attachment area comprises a cartridge structure in which an object is insertable form the side, and having a window to expose a front surface of the object, such as the display of an ESL.

1 1. The adapter as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the attachment surface (150) extends over a portion (122) housing the locking mechanism.

12. Adapter and holder combination, comprising an adapter according to any of claims 1-1 1 and a holder (107; 107') having a surface forming a display location, the holder comprising receiving means (106, 40) on the surface at said display location, the receiving means being adapted to receive gripping means (104a, 104b) provided on the adapter and having a hook-shaped cross-section.

13. The combination as claimed in claim 12, wherein at least some of said receiving means (40) are formed as a plurality of slots (40) in which the gripping means fits precisely, so as to fix the adapter side-ways at the display location.