Information device for facilitating merchandise inventory control
First Claim
1. An inventory information device for facilitating merchandise inventory control to maintain an optimum supply of merchandise for efficient operation of merchandising establishments, said inventory information device comprising:
- a housing having a chamber formed therein and being formed to define opposed first and second openings to said chamber, said first opening being larger than said second opening, said housing definning stop elements on either side of said second opening, said housing defining a display surface means and rear surface means;
retention means being fixed to said rear surface means for retaining said housing in assembly with the front portion of a merchandise display shelf of a merchandising establishment;
an inventory information element being received in movable relation within said chamber of said housing and being linearly movable from a retracted position, where said element is substantially fully received within said chamber of said housing, to an extended position, where said inventory information element is moved at least partially through said second opening and is at least partially extended from said housing exposing indicia present on said element, said inventory information element having a body portion of smaller dimensions than the dimension of said second opening allowing said body portion to pass through said second opening and having extension portions on opposed portions of said body and cooperating with said body portion to define a stop portion of larger dimension than the dimension of said second opening and of smaller dimension than the dimension of said first opening, said stop portion being receivable within said first opening and defining opposed stop shoulders disposed for engagement with said stop elements in the fully extended position of said inventory information element;
an information element access opening is defined by said housing;
a portion of said inventory information element is exposed by said information element access opening in the retracted position of said information element; and
an aperture being formed in said exposed portion of said inventory information element, said aperture being adapted to receive a movement implement for moving said inventory information element to said extended position relative to said housing.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An inventory information device for facilitating merchandise inventory control in accordance with the present invention comprises a housing defining a chamber therein. Means is provided for retaining the housing in assembly with a merchandise display shelf in order that inventory information provided on the device may be inspected by inventory control personnel. An inventory information element is movably received within the chamber of the housing and is capable of being moved from a retracted position where the element is substantially fully received within the housing, to an extended position, where the element is at least partially extended from the housing and exposing indicia that is present on the inventory information element. A recess is formed in the housing that is aligned with an aperture formed in a portion of the inventory information element in the retracted position of the inventory information element. A stylus, pencil or any other suitably pointed element may be inserted through the recess of the housing into the aperture of the inventory information element and force may be applied through the stylus to impart movement of the inventory information element toward the extended position thereof. Means is also provided to prevent separation of the inventory information element from the housing in the fully extended position thereof.
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Citations
8 Claims
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1. An inventory information device for facilitating merchandise inventory control to maintain an optimum supply of merchandise for efficient operation of merchandising establishments, said inventory information device comprising:
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a housing having a chamber formed therein and being formed to define opposed first and second openings to said chamber, said first opening being larger than said second opening, said housing definning stop elements on either side of said second opening, said housing defining a display surface means and rear surface means; retention means being fixed to said rear surface means for retaining said housing in assembly with the front portion of a merchandise display shelf of a merchandising establishment; an inventory information element being received in movable relation within said chamber of said housing and being linearly movable from a retracted position, where said element is substantially fully received within said chamber of said housing, to an extended position, where said inventory information element is moved at least partially through said second opening and is at least partially extended from said housing exposing indicia present on said element, said inventory information element having a body portion of smaller dimensions than the dimension of said second opening allowing said body portion to pass through said second opening and having extension portions on opposed portions of said body and cooperating with said body portion to define a stop portion of larger dimension than the dimension of said second opening and of smaller dimension than the dimension of said first opening, said stop portion being receivable within said first opening and defining opposed stop shoulders disposed for engagement with said stop elements in the fully extended position of said inventory information element; an information element access opening is defined by said housing; a portion of said inventory information element is exposed by said information element access opening in the retracted position of said information element; and an aperture being formed in said exposed portion of said inventory information element, said aperture being adapted to receive a movement implement for moving said inventory information element to said extended position relative to said housing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An inventory information device for facilitating merchandising inventory control to maintain an optimum supply of merchandise for efficient operation of merchandising establishments, said inventory information device comprising:
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housing means being formed to define an internal chamber and opposed first and second openings to said chamber, said first opening being larger than said second opening, said housing defining internal stop surfaces on either side of said second opening; retainer means on said housing means for retaining said housing in assembly with a merchandise display shelf of a merchandising establishment; an inventory information element being received in movable relation within said chamber of said housing means and being movable between a retracted position relative to said housing means, where at least a portion of said inventory information element is positioned within said housing means and an extended position, where said inventory information element is at least partially extended from said housing means through said second opening means exposing indicia present on said inventory information element, said inventory information element having a body sized to pass through said second opening and having opposed stop shoulders capable of passing only through said first opening, said stop shoulders engaging said internal stop surfaces in the extended position of said inventory information element to limit further extension movement; an information element access opening is defined by said housing; a portion of said inventory information element is exposed by said information element access opening in the retracted position of said information element; and an extension aperture is formed in said exposed portion of said information element, said extension aperture being adapted to receive a movement implement to allow an extension force manually applied through the movement implement to impart movement to said inventory information element to said extended position relative to said housing means. - View Dependent Claims (8)
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Specification