WO2017141199A1

WO2017141199A1 - Device for supporting electronic tags

Info

Publication number: WO2017141199A1
Application number: PCT/IB2017/050901
Authority: WO
Inventors: Stefano Nicolis
Original assignee: Stefano Nicolis
Priority date: 2016-02-19
Filing date: 2017-02-17
Publication date: 2017-08-24
Also published as: EP3417449A1; ITUB20160901A1; CN107533816A; CN107533816B

Abstract

A device for supporting electronic tags, comprising at least one profiled element (2) that is longitudinally extended and can be fixed to a supporting structure and can be engaged by at least one electronic tag (3): the profiled element (2) forms at least two engagement regions (4a, 4b) that can be engaged selectively by the electronic tag (3), respectively at least one first engagement region (4a) adapted to allow the sliding of the electronic tag (3) along a movement direction that is substantially parallel to the longitudinal extension of the profiled element (2) and at least one second engagement region (4b) that is adapted to prevent the sliding of the electronic tag (3) along the movement direction.

Description

DEVICE FOR SUPPORTING ELECTRONIC TAGS

The present invention relates to a device for supporting electronic tags.

As is known, the use of electronic tags, applied to shelves and displays of products in order to display prices or promotional offers, is currently widespread.

In order to support the electronic tags, profiled elements made of plastic material are usually used which are generally fixed to the free edge of a shelf or bracket for supporting the products and to which various electronic tags provided with portions that are shaped appropriately to be coupled to the profiled element are attached.

Profiled elements are currently used which have a longitudinally extended body which has a back wall from one face of which two mutually parallel engagement wings protrude substantially at right angles, forming retention shoulders for the electronic tag, which is inserted between the engagement wings, in order to allow the locking of the electronic tag with respect to the profiled element at least along a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the back wall of said profiled element.

With profiled elements of this type it is possible, even with the electronic tag attached to the profiled element, to make the electronic tag slide along the profiled element in order to arrange it in the correct position with respect to the products arranged on the shelf to which the profiled element is fixed.

However, this type of profiled element requires a rather precise tolerance control in order to prevent the engagement wings from applying to the electronic tag a locking force that is either too great, with consequent difficulties in the insertion and extraction of the electronic tag and obviously related damage risks, or is insufficient to prevent the electronic tag from being able to slide easily in case of accidental impact or from being easily removed or stolen.

Another type of profiled element has a longitudinally extended body which is also composed substantially of a back wall from which two mutually parallel engagement wings protrude substantially at right angles, one wing being crossed by a plurality of fixing seats, which are arranged so as to be mutually spaced along the extension of the profiled element and can be engaged selectively by a locking device which is associated with the electronic tag and is activated by means of a separate activation instrument constituted by a magnet. In particular, said locking device is provided by a retention pin, which can be actuated in motion, by moving the magnet closer to the electronic tag, in order to pass from a retracted position, in which it is inserted within the body of the electronic tag, so as to allow sliding along the longitudinal extension of the profiled element of the electronic tag that is inserted between the anchoring wings, to an extracted position, in which it protrudes from the electronic tag, so that it can be moved to engage one of the fixing seats, once the electronic tag has been moved to the desired position.

Although this solution ensures valid locking of the electronic tag along the profiled element, it has the drawback that it is constructively very complicated and consequently has a high cost.

Furthermore, the activation instrument is relatively heavy and inconvenient to carry during daily activities and is often forgotten or lost.

The aim of the present invention is to provide a device for supporting electronic tags that allows to move the electronic tag along the supporting profiled element, so as to allow precise positioning thereof with respect to the products with which it is to be associated, and also allows to ensure the locking of the electronic tag along the profiled element, once the tag has been moved to the desired position, without the need to use a separate activation instrument and without requiring precise tolerance control.

Within this aim, an object of the present invention is to provide a device for supporting electronic tags that is simple to provide and practical in use. Another object of the present invention is to provide a device for supporting electronic tags that can be manufactured at modest costs.

This aim and these and other objects which will become better apparent hereinafter are achieved by a device for supporting electronic tags, according to the invention, as defined in claim 1.

Further characteristics and advantages will become better apparent from the description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of the device according to the invention, illustrated by way of nonlimiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a profiled element that belongs to the supporting device according to the invention and of an electronic tag designed to be engaged with the profiled element;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the profiled element of Figure 1 with an electronic tag engaged therewith;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the electronic tag of Figure 1 from a different angle;

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view of the profiled element of Figure 1, with an electronic tag arranged in a first engagement region;

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view of the profiled element of Figure 1 with the electronic tag arranged in a second engagement region.

With reference to the figures cited above, the device for supporting electronic tags, according to the invention, designated generally by the reference numeral 1 , comprises at least one longitudinally extended profiled element 2, which can be fixed to a supporting structure constituted for example by a set of shelves for supporting products on sale and can be engaged by at least one electronic tag 3.

According to the invention, the profiled element 2 forms at least two engagement regions 4a, 4b, which can be engaged selectively by the electronic tag 3.

More particularly, the profiled element 2 forms a first engagement region 4a, which is adapted to allow the sliding of the electronic tag 3 along a movement direction that is substantially parallel to the longitudinal extension of the profiled element 2 and at least one second engagement region 4b, which is instead adapted to prevent the sliding of the electronic tag 3 along said movement direction.

In this manner, with the electronic tag 3 engaged with the first engagement region 4a, it is possible to move the electronic tag 3 along the profiled element 2 so as to allow, for example, its correct positioning with respect to the products referenced by the electronic tag 3, and it is further possible to lock the electronic tag 3 in the desired position along the profiled element 2 by moving it into engagement with the second engagement region 4b.

As in the illustrated example, the profiled element 2 is provided with a back wall 2a and with a pair of engagement wings 5a, 5b which extend from one face of the back wall 2a and can be engaged by the electronic tag 3.

On the face of the back wall 2a that is directed opposite with respect to the engagement wings 5a, 5b there are advantageously, as per se known, engagement tabs 7a, 7b for the connection of the profiled element 2 to the supporting structure.

Advantageously, the first engagement region 4a and the second engagement region 4b are arranged so that they can be engaged sequentially, one after the other, by the electronic tag 3, imparting to the electronic tag 3 an engagement motion away from or toward the back wall 2a, i.e., along a trajectory that has at least one component that is substantially perpendicular to the back wall 2a.

It is possible to provide, for example, as in the illustrated embodiment, that the electronic tag 3 can be moved from a condition in which it engages the first engagement region 4a to a condition in which it engages the second engagement region 4b by means of a movement thereof in the direction of the back wall 2a. More particularly, the first engagement region 4a and the second engagement region 4b are formed by the mutually facing faces, or internal faces, of the engagement wings 5a, 5b and can be engaged by at least one engagement portion 3a of the electronic tag 3 which can be inserted between the engagement wings 5a, 5b.

In the illustrated example, the first engagement region 4a is formed by a first longitudinal groove 8, which is formed on the internal face of one of the engagement wings, for example the one designated in the figures by the reference numeral 5a, and by a second groove 9, which is instead formed on the internal face of the other engagement wing 5b.

The first and second longitudinal grooves 8 and 9 are extended substantially parallel to the longitudinal extension of the profiled element 2 and can be engaged, with the possibility to slide, by corresponding engagement elements 10a, 10b formed on the engagement portion 3a of the electronic tag 3.

Conveniently, the second engagement region 4b comprises a plurality of retention abutments which are formed advantageously by locking seats 11 which are arranged so as to be mutually spaced along the longitudinal extension of the profiled element 2 and can be engaged selectively by at least one of the engagement elements 10a, 10b, so as to lock the electronic tag 3 along the longitudinal extension of the profiled element 2.

In particular, in the illustrated embodiment, the locking seats 11 are formed on one of the engagement wings 5 a, 5b.

More particularly, according to the illustrated embodiment, the second engagement region 4b is formed by the first groove 8 and by the locking seats 11 , which in this case are formed on the same engagement wing 5b that forms the second groove 9 and are arranged so as to be mutually spaced along a direction that is substantially parallel to the second groove 9.

Again with reference to the illustrated embodiment, on the engagement portion 3a of the electronic tag 3 there is at least one first engagement element 10a, which is constituted for example by an elongated protrusion, which is arranged on one side of the electronic tag 3 and can engage the first longitudinal groove 8, and at least one second engagement element 10b, which is arranged on the opposite side of the electronic tag 3 and can engage selectively the second groove 9 or at least one of the locking seats 11.

Preferably, on the electronic tag 3 there is a plurality of second engagement elements 10b, which are constituted by mutually aligned teeth which can be inserted individually in the locking seats 11.

Advantageously, between the locking seats 11 and the second groove 9 there is, on the engagement wing 5b, a longitudinal protrusion 12.

In particular, at least the engagement wing 5b is elastically flexible, in order to allow the second engagement elements 10b to move beyond the longitudinal protrusion 12 upon the engagement motion imparted to the electronic tag 3, in order to move the electronic tag 3 from the first engagement region 4a to the second engagement region 4b or vice versa.

Advantageously, the second engagement elements 10b have a face shaped like an inclined plane, which can slide on a portion shaped like an inclined plane of the longitudinal protrusion 12, so as to facilitate movement beyond the longitudinal protrusion 12 by the second engagement elements 10b.

It should be noted that at the end of the engagement wings 5 a, 5b that lies opposite with respect to the back wall there is a pair of longitudinal indentations 13a and 13b, which delimit respectively the first and second longitudinal grooves 8 and 9 and are directed toward each other, so as to form retention shoulders for the engagement elements 10a, 10b of the electronic tag 3.

For the sake of completeness, it should be added that in the first groove 8 it is optionally possible to arrange a layer 14 of material that increases friction between the profiled element 2 and the electronic tag 3, so that the electronic tag 3, in engagement with the first engagement region 4a, can slide along the profiled element 2 only as a consequence of the application of a certain force. The layer 14 can, for example, be constituted by rubber or other similar material.

The use of the device according to the invention is as follows.

The electronic tag 3 is engaged with the first engagement region 4a formed by the profiled element 2, by inserting the engagement portion 3a of the electronic tag 3 between the engagement wings 5a, 5b so that the first engagement element 10a of the electronic tag 3 engages the first longitudinal groove 8 and the second engagement elements 10b of the electronic tag 3 engage the second groove 9.

With the electronic tag 3 engaged with the first engagement region 4 a, the electronic tag 3 can be made to slide along the longitudinal extension of the electronic tag 3, overcoming the friction opposed by the layer 14, so that it can be moved to a chosen position along the profiled element 2.

With an engagement motion in the direction of the back wall 2a imparted to the electronic tag 3, it is possible to move the electronic tag 3 into engagement with the second engagement region 4b formed by the profiled element 2, so as to obtain the locking of the electronic tag 3 along the longitudinal extension of the profiled element 2.

In particular, by applying a thrust to the electronic tag 3 in the direction of the back wall 2a with the engagement element 10a kept engaged with the first longitudinal groove 8, sliding of the second engagement elements 10b on the longitudinal protrusion 12 is achieved, with consequent elastic flexing of the engagement wing 5b, until the second engagement elements 10b move beyond the longitudinal protrusion 12.

Once the second engagement elements 10b have moved beyond the longitudinal protrusion 12, the electronic tag 3 is optionally made to slide along the profiled element 2 until the second engagement elements 10b are each inserted in a locking seat 11 , so as to lock the possibility of the electronic tag 3 to slide along the longitudinal extension of the profiled element 2.

The disengagement of the electronic tag 3 from the profiled element 2 is performed by flexing the engagement wings 5a, 5b, releasing the engagement portion 3a of the electronic tag 3.

In practice it has been found that the invention is capable of achieving fully the intended aim and objects, since it allows in a very practical and simple manner to arrange the electronic tags along the supporting profiled element and to perform equally practically and simply the subsequent locking along the longitudinal extension of said profiled element.

All the characteristics of the invention indicated above as advantageous, convenient or the like may also be omitted or be replaced with equivalents.

The individual characteristics presented with reference to general teachings or particular embodiments may all be present in other embodiments or may replace characteristics in these embodiments.

The invention thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims.

In practice, the materials used, so long as they are compatible with the specific use, as well as the dimensions and shapes, may be any according to the requirements.

All the details may further be replaced with other technically equivalent elements.

The disclosures in Italian Patent Application no. 102016000017177 (UB2016A000901), from which this application claims priority, are incorporated herein by reference.

Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims

1. A device for supporting electronic tags, comprising at least one profiled element (2) that is longitudinally extended and can be fixed to a supporting structure and can be engaged by at least one electronic tag (3), characterized in that said profiled element (2) forms at least two engagement regions (4a, 4b) that can be engaged selectively by said electronic tag (3), respectively at least one first engagement region (4a) adapted to allow the sliding of said electronic tag (3) along a movement direction that is substantially parallel to the longitudinal extension of said profiled element (2) and at least one second engagement region (4b) that is adapted to prevent the sliding of said electronic tag (3) along said movement direction.

2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that said profiled element (2) has a back wall (2a) and a pair of engagement wings (5a, 5b) that extend from a face of said back wall (2a) and can be engaged by said electronic tag (3).

3. The device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said first engagement region (4a) and said second engagement region (4b) can be engaged sequentially by said electronic tag (3), as a consequence of an engagement motion imparted to said electronic tag (3) toward or away from said back wall (2a).

4. The device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said first engagement region (4a) and said second engagement region (4b) are formed by the mutually facing faces, or internal faces, of said engagement wings (5a, 5b), and can be engaged by at least one engagement portion (3a) of said electronic tag that can be inserted between said engagement wings (5a, 5b).

5. The device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said first engagement region (4a) is formed by a first longitudinal groove (8), formed on the internal face of one of said engagement wings (5a, 5b), and by a second longitudinal groove (9), formed on the internal face of the other engagement wing (5 a, 5b), said first and second longitudinal grooves (8, 9) being extended substantially parallel to the longitudinal extension of said profiled element (2) and being engageable, with the possibility of sliding, by corresponding engagement elements (10a, 10b) formed on said at least one engagement portion (3a) of said electronic tag (3).

6. The device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said second engagement region (4b) comprises a plurality of retention abutments that are mutually spaced along the longitudinal extension of said profiled element (2) and can be engaged selectively by at least one engagement element (10a, 10b) that is formed on said electronic tag (3), in order to lock said electronic tag (3) with respect to said profiled element (2) along said movement direction.

7. The device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said retention abutments are formed by a plurality of locking seats (11) that are mutually spaced along the longitudinal extension of said profiled element (2).

8. The device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said locking seats (11) are formed on one of said engagement wings (5a, 5b).

9. The device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said second engagement region (4b) is formed by said first longitudinal groove (8) and by a plurality of locking seats (11) formed on the engagement wing (5a, 5b) that forms said second groove (9), said locking seats (11) being mutually spaced along a direction that is substantially parallel to said second groove (9).

10. The device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that on said at least one engagement portion (3a) of said electronic tag (3) there is at least one first engagement element (10a), which is arranged on one side of said electronic tag (3) and can engage said first longitudinal groove (8), and at least one second engagement element (10b), which is arranged on the opposite side of said electronic tag (3) and can engage selectively said second groove (9) or at least one of said locking seats (11).

11. The device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that a longitudinal protrusion (12) is formed on the corresponding engagement wing (5a, 5b) between said locking seats (11) and said second groove (9), at least the engagement wing (5a, 5b) that forms said locking seats (11) and said second longitudinal groove (9) being elastically flexible in order to allow said second engagement element (10b) to move beyond said longitudinal protrusion (12) upon said engagement movement imparted to said electronic tag (3).

12. The device according to one or more the preceding claims, characterized in that in said first longitudinal groove (8) there is a layer (14) of material that increases friction between said profiled element (2) and said electronic tag (3).