Non-slidable display label

• US 5,473,832 A
• Filed: 10/23/1992
• Issued: 12/12/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Electronic Retailing Systems International, Inc. (Systems Holding, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Electronic Retailing Information Systems International'L Incorporated
• Inventors: Briechle, George T., Ackerman, Marvin
• Primary Examiner(s): Dorner, Kenneth J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SILBERMANN, JOANNE
• Application Number:
  US07/965,877
• Time in Patent Office: 1,145 Days
• Field of Search: 40/642, 40/651, 40/653, 40/662, 40/299, 40/1.6, 248/221.2, 248/222.3, 248/225.1, 403/294, 403/325, 403/326
• US Class Current: 40/124.05
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/204 specially adapted to be attached to a shelf or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/208 Electronic labels, Labels integrating electronic displays
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 7/08 the elements being secured or adapted to be secured by means of grooves, rails, or slits

Abstract

An electronic price displaying label is disclosed for use in conjunction with a rail, the rail having two lips which define an access slot and a cavity, in which the label is prevented from slidably moving in a horizontal direction along the rail. The label has a protuberance connected to the rear of the label and first and second grooves arranged on the rear of the label such that the label can be secured in a display position along the rail. The aforementioned grooves disposed on the rear of the label contain a resilient substance such as a rubber band. The protuberance of the label may be removed from and inserted into the cavity of the rail when the label is in a position perpendicular to the rail, with the protuberance securing the label to the rail when the label is in a position parallel to the rail. Upon attaching the label on the rail, the compression of the resilient substance by the lips of the rail prevents the label from slidably moving in a horizontal direction along the rail.

Claims

1. A price displaying label system comprising a label and a rail, the label having a front and a rear for removable mounting in a display position along a rail of substantially constant cross-section, the rail comprising a back, a top, and a bottom, and first and second parallel oppositely disposed lips provided on a forward side of the rail, the first lip joined to the rail top and the second lip joined to the rail bottom, the lips defining an access slot with a height, and the back, top, bottom and lips of the rail defining a cavity, the label comprising:

a protuberance having a top and a bottom connected to the rear of the label, the protuberance having a width no greater than the slot height, and having a height greater than the slot height;

a first groove arranged around the bottom of the protuberance disposed for engagement with the second lip;

a second groove aligned horizontally around the top of the protuberance, disposed for engagement with the first lip; and

a resilient substance provided within the first and second grooves;

whereby the protuberance of the label may be removed from and inserted into the cavity of the rail when the label is in a position perpendicular to the rail, whereby the protuberance secures the label to the rail when the label is in a position parallel to the rail, and whereby compression of the resilient substance by the lips of the rail prevents the label from slidably moving in a horizontal direction along the rail;

wherein the resilient substance comprises a rubber band around the protuberance, a portion of said band lying within said first groove;

and wherein a cylindrical slot is provided perpendicular to and within the second groove and positioned horizontally from the protuberance wherein the cylindrical slot contains a rubber member held in place by an interference fit and extending above the bottom surface of the second groove.

2. The price displaying label system of claim 1 wherein the rubber member comprises an o-ring section.

3. A price displaying label system comprising a label and a rail, the label having a front and a rear for removable mounting in a display position along a rail of substantially constant cross-section, the rail comprising:

a back, a top, and a bottom, and first and second parallel oppositely disposed lips provided on a forward side of the rail,

the first lip joined to the rail top and the second lip joined to the rail bottom,

the lips defining an access slot with a height, and the back, top, bottom and lips of the rail defining a cavity within which a label may be inserted at any of a multiplicity of locations along the length of the rail,

the label comprising;

a protuberance having a top and a bottom connected to the rear of the label, the protuberance having a width no greater than the slot height, and having a height greater than the slot height;

a first groove arranged around the bottom of the protuberance disposed for engagement with the second lip;

a second groove aligned horizontally around the top of the protuberance, disposed for engagement with the first lip; and

a resilient substance provided within the first and second grooves;

whereby the protuberance of the label may be removed from and inserted into the cavity of the rail when the label is in a position perpendicular to the rail, whereby the protuberance secures the label to the rail when the label is in a position parallel to the rail, and whereby compression of the resilient substance by the lips of the rail prevents the label from slidably moving in a horizontal direction along the rail.

4. The price displaying label system of claim 3 wherein the resilient substance comprises a rubber band around the protuberance, a portion of said band lying within said first groove.

5. The price displaying label system of claim 4 wherein the second groove extends across substantially the entirety of the top of the label and wherein the entirety of the second groove contains a portion of the band.

6. The price displaying label system of claim 3 having a cylindrical slot provided perpendicular to and within the second groove and positioned horizontally from the protuberance wherein the cylindrical slot contains a rubber member held in place by an interference fit and extending above the bottom surface of the second groove.

7. The price displaying label system of claim 6 wherein the rubber member comprises an o-ring section.

8. The price displaying label system of claim 3 wherein the lips provided on the forward side of the rail are spaced at an unequal distance from the back of the rail.

9. The price displaying label system of claim 8 wherein the resilient substance comprises a rubber band around the protuberance, a portion of said band lying within said first groove.

10. The price displaying label system of claim 9 wherein the second groove extends across substantially the entirety of the top of the label and wherein the entirety of the second groove contains a portion of the band.

11. The price displaying label system of claim 3 wherein:

(a) the rail back, top, bottom, first lip and second lip are each substantially planar;

(b) the first and second lips are parallel;

(c) the first lip and top define a first corner;

(d) the second lip and bottom define a second corner; and

(e) the distance from the first corner to the bottom edge of the first lip differs from the distance from the top edge of the second lip to the second corner.

12. The price displaying label system of claim 11 wherein the lips provided on the forward side of the rail are spaced at an unequal distance from the back of the rail.

13. The price displaying label system of claim 11 wherein the resilient substance comprises a rubber band around the protuberance, a portion of said band lying within said first groove.

14. The price displaying label system of claim 13 wherein the second groove extends across substantially the entirety of the top of the label and wherein the entirety of the second groove contains a portion of the band.

15. The price displaying label system of claim 13 wherein the lips provided on the forward side of the rail are spaced at an unequal distance from the back of the rail.

16. The price displaying label system of claim 15 wherein the second groove extends across substantially the entirety of the top of the label and wherein the entirety of the second groove contains a portion of the band.

17. A price displaying label having a front displaying a price, a rear, a left side, and a right side, the label comprising:

a protuberance connected to the rear of the label and having a top and a bottom, the protuberance having a width less than the height thereof;

a first groove arranged around the bottom of the protuberance;

a second groove aligned horizontally around the top of the protuberance; and

a resilient substance provided within the first and second grooves;

said label having a cylindrical slot provided perpendicular to and within the second groove and positioned horizontally from the protuberance wherein the cylindrical slot contains a rubber member held in place by an interference fit and extending above the bottom surface of the second groove.

18. The price displaying label of claim 17 wherein the rubber member comprises an o-ring section.

19. A price displaying label having a front displaying a price, a rear, a left side, and a right side, the label comprising:

a protuberance connected to the rear of the label and having a top and a bottom, the protuberance having a width less than the height thereof;

a first groove arranged around the bottom of the protuberance;

a second groove aligned horizontally around the top of the protuberance; and

a resilient substance provided within the first and second grooves;

wherein the first and second grooves are spaced at an unequal distance from the front of the label.

20. The price displaying label of claim 19 wherein the resilient substance comprises a rubber band around the protuberance, a portion of said band lying within said first groove.

21. The price displaying label of claim 20 wherein the second groove extends across substantially the entirety of the top of the label and wherein the entirety of the second groove contains a portion of the band.

22. A price displaying label having a front displaying a price, a rear, a left side, and a right side, the label comprising:

a protuberance connected to the rear of the label and having a top and a bottom, the protuberance having a width less than the height thereof;

a first groove arranged around the bottom of the protuberance;

a second groove aligned horizontally around the top of the protuberance; and

a resilient substance provided within the first and second grooves;

wherein the resilient substance comprises a rubber band around the protuberance, a portion of said band lying within said first groove, and wherein the second groove extends across substantially the entirety of the top of the label and wherein the entirety of the second groove contains a portion of the band.