WO1994014149A1

WO1994014149A1 - A holder for sheet-like information carriers

Info

Publication number: WO1994014149A1
Application number: PCT/SE1993/001078
Authority: WO
Inventors: Richard Moser; Börge JOSEFSSON
Original assignee: Hl Display Ab
Priority date: 1992-12-17
Filing date: 1993-12-16
Publication date: 1994-06-23
Also published as: SE9203804L; SE9203804D0; SE500092C2

Abstract

A holder for securing sheet-like information carriers, such as sales messages or the like. The holder (3) is intended to be mounted on shelves or like goods display devices in retail stores and the like, such that the information carrier will project out essentially at right angles to the shelf or corresponding device. The holder includes a row of at least three tongue-like elements (4-8) which are attached at one edge thereof to a common tongue-support strip (9) such as to extend out freely from the carrier in one or the other of two mutually parallel planes. Each adjacent element is located in a respective one of these planes so as to form between the elements a gap which receives a sheet-like information carrier in a plane parallel with the plane of the tongue-like elements. At least one of the tongue-like elements (5-7) has a spigot (11-13) which projects into the gap and which is intented to engage in a corresponding hole provided in the sheet-like information carrier (14).

Description

A HOLDER FOR SHEET-LIKE INFORMATION CARRIERS

The present invention relates to a holder for sheet¬ like information carriers, such as sales messages or the like, which is intended to be mounted on shelves or other goods display devices in stores, shops and like establishments, such that the information carrier will project out from the shelf or corresponding support essentially perpendicularly thereto.

There is a great need in this regard for holders that can be manufactured simply and cheaply, that enable the information carriers to be readily exchanged but provide a firm and secure carrier support at the same time, and that give an aesthetically attractive im¬ pression.

The main object of the present invention is to provide a holder which fulfils these requirements, among other things.

Another object is to provide a holder which can be pivotally mounted so as to enable the holder to swing to one side when touched and to return to its original position automatically-when the touch is removed.

The first-mentioned object of the invention is achieved with a holder of the kind defined in the leading paragraph which is characterized in that the holder includes a row of at least three tongue-shaped elements; in that the elements are secured at one edge thereof to a common support from which they project out freely in one or the other of two mutually paral¬ lel planes; in that each of mutually adjacent elements are located in a respective one of said planes so as to form therebetween a gap for receiving a sheet-like information carrier in a plane that extends parallel with the plane of the tongues; and in that at least one of the tongues has a spigot which projects inward- ly in said gap and which is intended to engage in a corresponding hole in the sheet-like information carrier.

A holder of this kind can be readily manufactured in a suitably transparent plastic material by injection moulding. Information carriers can be exchanged very easily in the case of the inventive holder, since an old information carrier can be readily removed from the freely available spigots and a new information carrier inserted into the gap between the tongues. The holder requires only little space and can be given an attractive form.

The holder may include three tongues which have spig¬ ots that project into the gap. In one preferred em¬ bodiment of the invention, there is provided at each end of the row of three tongues a tongue which has no spigot. This results in extremely stable attachment of a sheet-like information carrier.

The common tongue support is preferably arranged vertically on the holder, so that the tongues will form a vertical row, and is suitably attached pivotal- ly to a shelf or like supportive surface so that the sheet-like information carrier is able to swing to one side when touched. In this regard, the pivot axle of the carrier will preferably be inclined vertically, so that the upper end of the pivot axle will be located closer to the tongues than the lower end of said axle. The sheet-like information carrier will then swing obliquely upwards when touched and will return to its original position automatically under the force of gravity when the touch is removed. This provides a pivotable holder of very simple construction, since no springs or like biassing elements are required to return the holder to its original position. Other characteristic features of an inventive holder will be evident from the following Claims.

The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to preferred exemplifying embodiments thereof and also with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 illustrates an inventive holder unit in perspective.

Figure 2 shows the holder unit of Figure 1 fitted with an information carrier.

Figure 3 is a side view of the holder unit illustrated in Figure l.

Figure 4 is a front view of the holder unit illustrat¬ ed in Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a view of the holder unit illustrated in Figure 1 from above.

The illustrated holder unit includes a mounting plate 1 which is intended to be fitted to a shelf in a retail store or like establishment and which has a mounting part 2 which receives the actual holder 3 on which a sheet-like information carrier, such as a sales message or the like, a so-called flag, is mount- ed.

The holder 3 of the illustrated embodiment includes five tongue-shaped elements 4-8, all of which are attached at their inner edges to a common tongue- support strip 9 which has an outwardly projecting attachment part 10. Each alternate tongue is disposed in a first vertical plane while the remaining tongues are disposed in another plane which is parallel to but spaced from the first plane. This results in the formation of a free gap between the various tongues, in which a sheet-like information carrier is received.

In order to ensure that the information carrier will be held securely in the holder, the three centre tongues 5, 6, 7 of the illustrated embodiment are each provided with a spigot 11, 12 and 13 which project into the gap defined therebetween. The information carrier is provided with holes corresponding to the spigots, and when the information carrier is inserted into the gap between the tongues, the carrier will be held securely in the holder just as effectively as though it were permanently attached. Figure 2 illus¬ trates an inventive holder fitted with an information carrier 14.

The information carrier is fitted to the holder very easily, by simply inserting the information carrier into the gap between the tongues 4-8 until the spigots 11-13 engage in the holes provided in the carrier 14. The information carrier can also be easily removed from the holder, since the spigots which extend through the information carrier and the surrounding parts of said carrier can be easily reached from outside. One important advantage afforded by the inventive holder is that it can be used to secure information carriers of any desired dimensions.

The holder is preferably extrusion moulded in a trans- parent plastic material, for instance polycarbonate. The tongues will therewith be somewhat resilient, which further simplifies the exchange of information carriers. In this regard, the tongues may be con¬ structed so that their outer end parts exert a given bias on the information carrier, therewith further improving its attachment.

Since, in accordance with the invention, an informa¬ tion carrier 14 is intended to project out essentially at right angles from a shelf in a retail store for instance, an advantage is gained when the information carrier is able to swing to one side when touched. Accordingly, the inventive holder 3 is hinged to the mounting part 2. In the case of the illustrated em¬ bodiment, the hinge means has the form of two pivot pins 15, 16 which coact with corresponding holes in respective attachment lugs 17 and 18 provided on the outwardly projecting part 10 of the common tongue- support strip 9. This hinge arrangement enables the holder 3 to swing in the directions illustrated by the double arrow A in Figure 5.

In order to eliminate the need of tensioning springs or the like to restore the holder 3 to its original position after being swung to one side, the pivot pins 15, 16 of the illustrated embodiment have been direct¬ ed so that the pivot axle of the holder is at an angle to the vertical plane and so that the upper end of the pivot axle will be located closer to the tongues on the holder 3 than the bottom end of the pivot axle. In this case, when the holder 3 and an information carri¬ er 14 connected thereto is swung obliquely upwards, the holder and carrier will automatically return to their original position when the pivoting force is removed. This provides an extremely advantageous solution to the problem of achieving simple return of an information carrier that has been swung to one side.

It will be understood that the aforedescribed embodi¬ ment of an inventive holder unit can be modified in several respects within the scope of the following Claims. For instance, the holder can be attached to a shelf or corresponding surface in some other way, although it is preferred that the holder is attached for pivotal movement about an oblique axle so as to achieve automatic return of the holder to its original position. The pivot axle may comprise a continuous axle instead of pivot pins. With regard to the holder 3, the number of tongues may be varied in accordance with requirements, although the number of tongues will preferably not be less than three, in order to ensure positive attachment of an information carrier. Fur¬ thermore, at least one of the tongues shall be provid¬ ed with a spigot or like device for coaction with a hole in the information carrier.

Claims

1. A holder for securing sheet-like information carriers, such as sales messages or the like, which is intended to be mounted on shelves or like goods dis¬ play devices in retail stores and like establishments so that the information carrier will project out essentially at right angles from said shelf or like device, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the holder includes a row of at least three tongue-like elements (4-8) ; in that the tongue-like elements are attached at one edge thereof to a common tongue-support strip (9) such as to extend freely therefrom in one or the other of two mutually parallel planes; in that adja- cent tongue-like elements are each located in a re¬ spective one of said planes so as to form therebetween a gap for receiving a sheet-like information carrier (14) in a plane parallel to the plane of the tongue¬ like elements; and in that at least one of the tongue- like elements (5-7) includes a spigot (11-13) which projects into said gap and which is intended to engage a corresponding hole in the sheet-like information carrier (14) .

2. A holder according to Claim 1, c h a r a c ¬ t e r i z e d in that the tongue-like elements (4-8) are attached to a carrier strip (9) and are slightly flexible.

3. A holder according to Claim 1 or 2, c h a r ¬ a c t e r i z e d in that the holder includes three tongues (5-7) which have spigots (11-13) that project into said gap and that are intended to engage in corresponding holes in the sheet-like information carrier (14) .

A holder according to Claim 3, c h a r a c - t e r i z e d in that a tongue-like element (4-8) which lacks a spigot is provided at each end of the row of three tongue-like elements (5-7) .

5. A holder according to any one of Claims 1-4, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the tongue-like elements (4-8) are located close together.

6. A holder according to any one of Claims 2-5, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the common tongue support (9) is disposed vertically so that the tongue¬ like elements (4-8) will form a vertical column.

7. A holder according to Claim 6, c h a r a c - t e r i z e d in that the common tongue-support strip (9) is pivotally mounted to a shelf or corresponding device so as to enable the sheet-like information carrier (14) to swing to one side when touched.

8. A holder according to Claim 7, c h a r a c ¬ t e r i z e d in that the pivot axle of the common tongue-support strip (9) is inclined vertically so that the upper end of the pivot axle is located closer to the tongue-like elements (4-8) than the lower end of said axle, such that the sheet-like information carrier (14) will swing obliquely upwards when touched and return automatically to its original position under the force of gravity when the touch is removed.

9. A holder according to Claim 8, c h a r a c ¬ t e r i z e d in that the pivot axle is comprised of an upper and a lower pivot pin (15 and 16 respective¬ ly) which are disposed in line with one another and which are mounted on arms (17, 18) which project out from the common tongue-support strip (9) .

10. A sheet-like information carrier intended for use with a holder according to Claim 1, c h a r a c - t e r i z e d in that the information carrier is provided with through-penetrating holes at positions which correspond to the positions of the spigot or spigots (11-13) provided on the holder (3) .