EP1870872A2

EP1870872A2 - Shelf labels and/or electronic labels mounting means

Info

Publication number: EP1870872A2
Application number: EP07110765A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Lieven Lammertyn
Original assignee: Promaco bvba
Current assignee: Promaco bvba
Priority date: 2006-06-21
Filing date: 2007-06-21
Publication date: 2007-12-26
Also published as: BE1017191A4; EP1870872A3

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system for the mounting of information-carrying labels and/or electronic information carriers on the front of a shelf. This system comprises at least one profiled strip (1), at least one intermediate profile (8) and a holder (11) for said information-carrying labels and/or electronic information carriers. The intermediate profile (8) is, on the one hand, provided to be releasably mounted on said connecting part (2) and, on the other hand, provided to attach said one or more holders (11) releasably to this intermediate profile (8). In addition, the intermediate profile (8) can be mounted on the connecting part (2) at two or more angles in order to achieve different viewing directions.

Description

The invention relates to a system for the mounting of information-carrying labels and/or electronic information carriers on the front of a shelf, which, on the one hand, comprises at least one profiled strip which is provided to be mounted on the front of the shelf and, on the other hand, is provided with at least one connecting part for releasably mounting one or more holders for said information-carrying labels and/or electronic information carriers onto the profiled strip.
In shops, department stores and the like, where goods are displayed and presented on racks, the price or any other information about these goods is usually attached to the front of a shelf of the racks at the location of these products.
In this connection, various systems are known for attaching information-carrying labels and/or electronic information carriers to the front of such a shelf. The most common system consists substantially of two parts, wherein a first part consists of a profiled strip which is mounted on the front of the shelf and a second part which consists of the holder for the information-carrying labels and/or electronic information carriers, which is optionally fixedly connected to the profiled strip.
So for instance in WO 01/78043 A1 a system is disclosed for arranging holders for information-carrying labels in optional positions along the front of a shelf and the like. This system comprises a supporting profiled strip having a mounting part which is modified so that the profiled strip can be mounted on the front of a shelf, and furthermore comprises a part which serves as fixing part for releasably fixing label holders to the supporting profiled strip. This system is characterized by the combination of the fact that the supporting profiled strip extends along the entire length of the shelf, or a part thereof, and has a height which is substantially equal to the height of the front of the shelf, and that the label holders consist of short label holder pockets which have a greater height than the supporting profiled strip. When the label holder pockets have been mounted on the supporting profiled strip, they extend beneath the supporting profiled strip, and they are provided hinged in order to be able to hinge in front of the supporting profiled strip.
In WO 91/05324 A1 , a holder is described for securely holding strip-shaped information carriers, integrally formed and comprising a mounting to which a holder part is connected which houses the information carriers. The holder is specifically intended for grocery stores and department stores. The holder part is hingedly connected to the mounting, so that this holder part can be moved from a lower position, wherein the information facing an individual can be read, to a higher position, wherein the information which is on the back of this holder part can be read. Furthermore, the holder is provided in such a manner that when it is moved into its top position, it can remain there until it is returned to its bottom position.
In US 5,419,066 A , a card holder extrusion is described which is mounted on a conventional card holder provided at the front of a shelf. One or more cards which are provided with a hook-shaped tongue comprising a couple of parallel longitudinal edges are releasably mounted on the conventional card holder. This card holder extrusion contains a substantially flat body comprising a front, a side and parallel top and bottom edges in the longitudinal direction. The flat body is attached to the conventional card holder. A card is releasably mounted in the card holder extrusion. A card holder assembly in this case consists of the combination of a card holder extrusion and at least one card.
In FR 2744825 A1 , a holder for labels is described, comprising two separately formed sections, wherein one section forms an attachment part which can be attached to a shelf, and the other part forms a support for the label, which can be combined with the mounting by means of a connecting part. A label pocket is formed over the entire length of one of the sections, this label pocket having a non-retuming flange with a blade which extends over the length of the other section. This blade is provided to be inserted into the label pocket by pressure and has a counter form which can counteract the non-retuming flange in order to prevent frontal extraction of the blade after having been introduced into the label pocket by pressure.
However, the disadvantage of the above-described systems is that the information-carrying labels and/or electronic information carriers have to be rotated individually with respect to the shelf and, moreover, can only be arranged in one viewing direction. Especially at locations where these information-carrying labels and/or electronic information carriers are attached to shelves above eye level, the readability thereof is limited.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a system for the mounting of information-carrying labels and/or electronic information carriers on the front of a shelf according to the preamble of the first claim, wherein one or more information-carrying labels and/or electronic information carriers can be rotated (simultaneously) in a single operation with respect to the shelf and be arranged at different viewing angles with respect to the shelf, in order thus to increase the readability of these information-carrying labels and/or electronic information carriers on the shelf.
This object of the invention is achieved by providing a system for the mounting of information-carrying labels and/or electronic information carriers on the front of a shelf, comprising at least one profiled strip which is provided to be mounted on the front of the shelf, and which is furthermore provided with at least one connecting part for releasably mounting one or more holders to the profiled strip for said information-carrying labels and/or electronic information carriers, wherein the system comprises at least one intermediate profile which is provided, on the one hand, to be mounted releasably to said connecting part, and which is provided, on the other hand, to attach said one or more holders releasably to this intermediate profile, and wherein the intermediate profile can be mounted on the connecting part at two or more angles.
By using such an intermediate profile, one or more different holders of information-carrying labels and/or electronic information carriers can be rotated simultaneously in a single operation and, in addition, can also be placed at such an angle that they are directed in the viewing direction of an upright individual. The holder can then be directed upwards on a shelf at the bottom of a rack, while a holder on a shelf at the top of a rack can be directed downwards. In this manner, the holder can thus be positioned at various viewing angles with respect to the shelf.
In a particular embodiment of this invention, at least part of the outside of the connecting part is provided with at least two grooves extending in the longitudinal direction of the connecting part, and the inside of the intermediate profile is provided with two grooves extending in the longitudinal direction of the intermediate profile, in order to be able to mount the intermediate profile to the connecting part at two or more angles.
In a more particular embodiment of this configuration of the invention, the entire outside of the connecting part is provided with grooves extending in the longitudinal direction of the connecting part.
In a preferred embodiment of such a configuration of the invention, said grooves extending in the longitudinal direction of the connecting part and the intermediate profile have a depth which is such that the intermediate profile can be moved over the connecting part in a direction at right angles to the direction of the grooves by means of a rotating movement. This offers the additional advantage that the holder for information-carrying labels and/or electronic information carriers can be arranged rotatably with respect to the shelves.
In an advantageous embodiment of a system according to the invention, at least part of the outside of the connecting part is provided to be substantially round, and at least part of the inside of the intermediate profile has a corresponding substantially round shape.
In a more advantageous embodiment of a system according to the invention, the entire outside of the connecting part is of a substantially round design.
In a preferred embodiment of a system according to the invention, the outside of the intermediate profile has a polygonal shape and the holder is provided with a clamping part with an inner side which has a corresponding polygonal shape in order to be able to securely clamp the intermediate profile into the clamping part of the holder.
In a more particular embodiment of a system according to the present invention, the holders of the information-carrying labels and/or electronic information carriers are provided with a space into which an anti-theft securing rod can be introduced for releasably connecting various holders which have been arranged on the profiled strip.
A particular preferred embodiment of a system for the mounting of information-carrying labels and/or information carriers on the front of a shelf according to the present invention comprises holders which are composed of a first part which is provided to be mounted on the intermediate profile, and a second part which is hingedly connected to the latter, with the first and second part being provided to be releasably connected to one another. In this embodiment, the hinged connection makes it possible to turn a holder for information-carrying labels and/or electronic information carriers out of the way if the latter is in the way, for example when replenishing the shelves. This particular embodiment will mainly be desirable in those cases where such a holder extends beyond the dimensions of the shelf.
In a more particular embodiment of this holder with two parts which are hingedly connected to one another, the first part is provided with a recess and the second part is provided with a projection which can be releasably inserted into said recess.
For mounting section indicators to the profiled strip according to the present invention, the latter is preferably provided with one or more T-pieces. The advantage of mounting section indicators to this profiled strip is that no additional components have to be mounted on the shelf in order to mount these section indicators.
Preferably, profiled strips and intermediate profiles according to the present invention are produced by means of extrusion. With this production method, the length of the profiled strips and intermediate profiles is not limited, in contrast with alternative production methods, such as injection moulding. A particular embodiment of a system according to the invention comprises at least one profiled strip and at least one intermediate profile which are produced by means of extrusion.
In order to explain the characteristics of the present invention further and to illustrate additional advantages and features, a more detailed description of various embodiments of a system for the mounting of information-carrying labels and/or electronic information carriers on the front of a shelf according to the invention is given below. This description cannot be interpreted as being a limitation of the scope of protection of the present invention defined in the claims.
Reference numerals are used in this detailed description to refer to the attached drawings, wherein

figure 1 shows a cross section of a first embodiment of a profiled strip which forms part of a system according to the invention;
figure 2 shows a perspective side view of the profiled strip as illustrated in figure 1;
figure 3 shows a cross section of a second embodiment of a profiled strip which forms part of a system according to the invention;
figure 4 shows a perspective side view of the profiled strip as illustrated in figure 3;
figure 5 shows a detail of the connecting part of the profiled strip as illustrated in figures 3 and 4;
figure 6 shows a cross section of the profiled strip as illustrated in figures 3 and 4, wherein the profiled strip is provided with a T-piece for mounting section indicators to the profiled strip;
figure 7 shows a perspective side view of a profiled strip provided with a T-piece for mounting section indicators to the profiled strip as illustrated in figure 6;
figure 8 shows an intermediate profile for releasably mounting one or more holders for information-carrying labels and/or electronic information carriers to a profiled strip which forms part of a system according to the invention;
figure 9 shows a perspective front view of an intermediate profile as illustrated in figure 8;
figure 10 shows a cross section of a holder for information-carrying labels and/or electronic information carriers which forms part of a system according to the present invention;
figure 11 shows a perspective front view of a holder as illustrated in figure 10.

A system for the mounting of information-carrying labels and/or electronic information carriers on the front of a shelf according to the invention comprises at least one profiled strip (1), as illustrated in figures 1 to 4 and 6 and 7, which is provided to be mounted on the front of the shelf, and which is further provided with at least one connecting part (2) for releasably mounting one or more holders (11) for said information-carrying labels and/or electronic information carriers to the profiled strip (1), as illustrated in figures 10 and 11. The mounting of the holders (11) on the connecting part (2) of the profiled strip (1) is done by means of at least one intermediate profile (8), as illustrated in figures 8 and 9, which is provided, on the one hand, to be releasably mounted on said connecting part (2), and which, on the other hand, is provided for releasably mounting said one or more holders (11) to this intermediate profile (8), and wherein the intermediate profile (8) can be mounted on the connecting part (2) at two or more angles. At least part of the outside (21) of this connecting part (2) is provided with grooves (6) extending in the longitudinal direction of this connecting part (2). In the preferred embodiment which is illustrated in detail in figure 5, the connecting part (2) is provided with grooves (6) extending in the longitudinal direction over the entire periphery.
A first embodiment of a profiled strip (1) according to the present invention, as is illustrated in figures 1 and 2, is provided to be glued to a shelf by means of an adhesive strip (3) which is provided on the horizontal part (4a) of the L-shaped profile (4). This adhesive strip (3) is herewith produced as a double-sided adhesive tape. In the case of metal shelves, this adhesive strip (3) can be replaced by a magnetic strip. Such an embodiment of a profiled strip (1) offers the advantage that it can be mounted on different kinds of universal shelves, irrespective of the thickness of the shelves.
The profiled strip (1) as illustrated in figures 3 and 4 and figures 6 and 7 is provided to be pushed over a shelf, for example a glass shelf. In addition to the L-shaped profile (4), the profiled strip (1) is provided with a bent part (40) which has a clamping action on the shelf to which it is mounted. In the clamping region (41) of this bent part (40) a protective strip (5) is provided in order not to damage the shelf to which such a profiled strip (1) is mounted. This is particularly important with glass shelves. Such a profiled strip (1) has the advantage that is can be mounted and removed in a simple manner, as it is releasably mounted on the shelf. The profiled strip (1) illustrated in figures 6 and 7 is furthermore provided with a T-piece (7) on the horizontal section (4a) of the L-shaped profile (4), the purpose of which is to mount section indicators to the profiled strip (1) in a simple manner.
As can be seen in figures 1 to 4 and figures 6 and 7, a profiled strip (1) comprises an L-shaped profile (4), which is composed of a horizontal part (4a) which, in the mounted state, is provided to adjoin the upper side of a shelf, and a vertical part (4b) which, in the mounted state, is provided to adjoin the front of the shelf.
The holder (11) for information-carrying labels and/or electronic information carriers, as illustrated in figures 10 and 11, is composed of a first part (13) which is provided to be mounted on the intermediate profile (8) by means of a clamping part (12), and a second part (14) which is hingedly connected to the first part (13) by means of the hinge point (15). The first part (13) of the holder (11) is provided with a recess (16), and the second part (14) is provided with a projection (17) which can be releasably introduced into said recess (16). In this way, the second part (14) can be moved upwards, for example when the holder (11) projects beneath a shelf and a product is to be removed from a shelf underneath or to be placed on a shelf underneath. The first part (13) of the holder (11) has a holding space (20) which is provided for inserting a label and/or an electronic information carrier. Furthermore, the second part (14) of this holder (11) is provided with a space (18) into which an anti-theft securing rod can be introduced for releasably connecting various holders (11) arranged on the profiled strip (1).
In the preferred embodiment of the connecting part (2), as illustrated in detail in figure 5, at least part of the outside (21) of the connecting part (2) has a substantially round shape. In this case, the intermediate profile (8), as illustrated in figures 8 and 9, has a corresponding substantially round shape on the inside (9). Preferably, the outside (21) of the connecting part (2) is provided to be round over the entire circumference, as a result of which the intermediate profile (8), and consequently also the holder (11) which is releasably attached thereto, can be placed in a maximum number of positions with respect to the connecting part (2).
The intermediate profile (8) according to the invention, as illustrated in figures 8 and 9, is open on one side, in order to allow this intermediate profile (8) to be attached to the connecting part (2) of the profiled strip (1). The intermediate profile (8) is provided on the inside (9) with two grooves (10) extending in the longitudinal direction of the intermediate profile (8). In addition, these grooves (10) have a depth, preferably corresponding to the depth of the grooves (6) of the connecting part (2), which is such that the intermediate profile (8) can be moved over the connecting part (2) in a direction at right angles to the direction of the grooves (6,10) by means of a rotating movement.
Furthermore, the outside (81) of the intermediate profile (8), as illustrated in figures 8 and 9, has a polygonal shape. In the embodiment as illustrated in figures 8 and 9, the outer periphery of the intermediate profile (8) is made up of 5 equal sides. As can be seen in figures 10 and 11, the inside (22) of the clamping part (12) has a polygonal shape corresponding to the external shape of the outside (81) of the intermediate profile (8), in this case therefore also 5 equal sides, in order to allow one or more holders (11) to be mounted releasably, but still in a clamping manner, to the intermediate profile (8), in such a manner that the holders (11) remain firmly attached to the intermediate profile (8), but the intermediate profile (8) can still be detached from the holder (11) in a simple manner.
The profiled strip (1), the intermediate profile (8) and the holder (11) which form part of a system according to the invention, are preferably produced by means of extrusion, with the length of the profiled strip (1) and the intermediate profile (8) being unlimited. However, the profiled strips (1) or intermediate profiles (8) can also be produced by means of injection-moulding if their length is kept relatively short.

Claims

System for the mounting of information-carrying labels and/or electronic information carriers on the front of a shelf, comprising at least one profiled strip (1) which is provided to be mounted on the front of the shelf, and which is furthermore provided with at least one connecting part (2) for releasably mounting one or more holders (11) for said information-carrying labels and/or electronic information carriers to the profiled strip (1), characterized in that the system comprises at least one intermediate profile (8) which is on the one hand provided to be mounted releasably to said connecting part (2), and which on the other hand is provided to attach said one or more holders (11) releasably to this intermediate profile (8), and wherein the intermediate profile (8) can be mounted on the connecting part (2) at two or more angles.
System according to claim 1, characterized in that at least part of the outside (21) of the connecting part (2) is provided with at least two grooves (6) extending in the longitudinal direction of the connecting part (2), and the inside (9) of the intermediate profile (8) is provided with two grooves (10) extending in the longitudinal direction of the intermediate profile (8), in order to be able to mount the intermediate profile (8) to the connecting part (2) at two or more angles.
System according to claim 2, characterized in that the entire outside (21) of the connecting part (2) is provided with grooves (6) extending in the longitudinal direction of the connecting part (2).
System according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that said grooves (6,9) extending in the longitudinal direction of the connecting part (2) and the intermediate profile (8) have a depth which is such that the intermediate profile (8) can be moved over the connecting part (2) in a direction at right angles to the direction of the grooves (6,9) by means of a rotating movement.
System according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that at least part of the outside (21) of the connecting part (2) is provided to be substantially round, and at least part of the inside (9) of the intermediate profile (8) has a corresponding substantially round shape.
System according to claim 5, characterized in that the entire outside (21) of the connecting part (2) is of a substantially round design.
System according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the outside (81) of the intermediate profile (8) has a polygonal shape and the holder (11) is provided with a clamping part (12) with an inner side (22) which has a corresponding polygonal shape in order to be able to securely clamp the intermediate profile (8) into the clamping part (12) of the holder (11).
System according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the holders (11) of the information-carrying labels and/or electronic information carriers are provided with a space (18) into which an anti-theft securing rod can be introduced for releasably connecting various holders which have been arranged on the profiled strip (1).
System according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the holders (11) are composed of a first part (13) which is provided to be mounted on the intermediate profile (8), and a second part (14) which is hingedly connected to the latter, with the first and the second part (13,14) being provided to be releasably connected to one another.
System according to claim 9, characterized in that the first part (13) is provided with a recess (16) and the second part (14) is provided with a projection (17) which can be releasably inserted into said recess (16).
System according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the profiled strip (1) is provided with one or more T-pieces (7) for mounting section indicators to the profiled strip (1).
System according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one profiled strip (1) and the at least one intermediate profile (8) are produced by means of extrusion.