Mounting clip for dispensing sheet-like items

• US 4,839,977 A
• Filed: 02/24/1988
• Issued: 06/20/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Comark Merchandising, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Comark Merchandising, Inc.
• Inventors: Krautsack, Richard G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mancene, Gene
• Assistant Examiner(s): Stone, Cary E.
• Application Number:
  US07/159,828
• Time in Patent Office: 482 Days
• Field of Search: 40/658, 40/650, 40/657, 40/617, 248/221.4, 248/222.2, 248/304, 211/54.1, 211/57.1, 211/59.1
• US Class Current: 40/658
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 1/10 Supports or holders for show-cards

Abstract

Enclosed is an assemblage for displaying and dispensing a plurality of sheet-like materials, one at a time. The assemblage can be mounted in a variety of both hanging and cantilever modes. The assemblage includes one or more stacks of sheet-like materials fastened to a clip which is stamped from a unitary flat blank of resilient material. The clip includes a pair of opposed arms joined to an intermediate base section with lines of weakness, each forming a hinge connection. A rivet fastener connects the stacks of sheet-like materials to both arms, while allowing one arm to slide relative to the other, such that the assemblage may be moved between collapsed and expanded configurations. A head portion extends from the base section and includes a pair of opposed, resiliently hinged ears. The ears may be cupped to fit within a pricing channel at an edge of a store shelf to provide one mode of mounting. The assemblage further includes an adhesive resilient pad attached to the base section to provide further variety in the number of possible mounting modes.

Claims

1. Apparatus including a clip for displaying and dispensing a plurality of sheet-like materials, one at a time, and at least one stack of sheet-like materials, comprising:

a plurality of sheet-like materials arranged in a stack;

a clip which includes a unitary strip of flexible material defining a pair of opposed arms and a base section intermediate the arms and having a rear surface;

fastener means for connecting the stack of sheet-like materials to both said arms so as to allow one said arm to slide relative to the other so that said base section is selectively movable from a position generally parallel to said stack of sheet-like materials to a position wherein the rear surface of said base section faces generally away from said stack of sheet-like materials; and

said clip further includes mounting means for mounting said base section to an external support means whereby said stack of sheet-like materials is supported a individual sheet-like components of the stack are separated therefrom.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising head means extending outwardly from said base section, said head means including said mounting means.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said mounting means comprises an aperture in said head means for receiving a fastener which mounts said apparatus to an external support surface.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said mounting means comprised a resilient pad on said rear surface and having an adhesive surface covered by a selectively removable cover sheet.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said head means is formed from a portion of said unitary strip of flexible material.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said unitary strip defines lines of weakness joining said arms to said base section, rendering the arms foldable with respect to said base section.

7. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said head means has a pair of opposed ears formed therein, with cut lines defining hinge portions joining the ears to a central portion of said head means.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a second stack of sheet-like items spaced from said stack by at least one said arm and joined to at least one said arm by said fastener means.

10. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said fastener means comprises a rivet, and the other of said arms includes an edge defining a recess between a pair of camming surfaces for selective snap engagement with said rivet, whereby said other arm, when disengaged from said rivet, can be folded about said base section so as to extend away from said stack of sheet-like materials.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said slot includes a lateral recess extending from said slot proportioned to receive said rivet so as to maintain said one arm in a slidingly extended position relative to said other arm when said rivet is engaged in said recess, in which position said base section rear surface faces generally away from said stack of sheet-like materials.

9. The apparatus of claim I wherein one of said arms contains an elongated slot for receiving said fastener means, said slot permitting said fastener means to slide therein while being retained captive within said slot.