Holder for an electronic price label

• US 6,553,702 B1
• Filed: 03/03/2000
• Issued: 04/29/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Fasteners for Retail Incorporated (FFR DSI Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Fasteners for Retail Incorporated (FFR DSI Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bacnik, James A.
• Primary Examiner(s): DAVIS, CASSANDRA HOPE
• Application Number:
  US09/518,407
• Time in Patent Office: 1,152 Days
• Field of Search: 406/610.3, 406/49, 406/51, 406/50
• US Class Current: 40/661.03
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/204 specially adapted to be attached to a shelf or the like

Abstract

An extruded holder for an electronic price label (EPL) includes a channel member defined by a base wall and first and second spaced-apart sidewalls that project outwardly from opposite ends of the base wall with respective first and second inner faces arranged in opposed facing relation. The base wall and the sidewalls define a C-shaped recess in the channel member. The sidewall inner faces each define a groove that extends parallel to the base wall, and an associated EPL is adapted for receipt in the recess with first and second projections of the EPL respectively positioned in the first and second grooves. A clip is connected to the channel member and is adapted for releasable connection to a wide variety of different retail shelf fixtures. The clip is defined by a base member and a back member interconnected to define an L-shaped cross-sectional shape, and the clip is further defined by a connecting arm that has a first end connected to the clip base member and a second end connected to the channel member. The connecting arm and the clip back member define a slot therebetween that receives and retains a projecting edge of an associated retail shelf. In an alternative embodiment, the channel member includes an adhesive mounting portion connected thereto that is adapted for adhesive securement to an associated retail shelf or to an adapter that is, in turn, connected to the retail shelf, a wire basket, or other retail fixture.

Claims

1. A holder for an electronic price label, said holder comprising:

a channel member defined by a base wall and first and second spaced-apart sidewalls that project outwardly from opposite ends of the base wall with respective first and second inner faces arranged in opposed facing relation with each other so that said base wall and said first and second sidewalls define a recess with a C-shaped cross-sectional shape for selectively accommodating an associated electronic price label;

a clip connected to said channel member, said clip comprising a base member and a back member interconnected to define an L-shaped cross-sectional shape, said clip further comprising a connecting arm having a first end connected to one of said clip base member and said back member and a second end connected to said channel member, said connecting arm and said clip together defining an L-shaped slot therebetween, said slot being spaced from said channel member and adapted to receive and retain therein a projecting portion of an associated retail shelf.

5. The electronic price label holder as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

a resilient finger and a nib connected to one of said channel member and said clip and defining a space between said finger, said nib, and said one of said channel member and said clip for selective insertion and frictional retention of printed matter.

6. The electronic price label holder as set forth in claim 1, wherein said base wall of said channel is planar entirely between said first and second sidewalls of said channel member.

7. The electronic price label holder as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first and second walls of said channel member respectively include third and fourth grooves defined in said inner faces, said third and fourth grooves together defining a slot for selective receipt of decorative and informational printed matter.

8. The electronic price label holder as set forth in claim 1, wherein said channel member and said clip are defined together as a one-piece extrusion.

13. The electronic price label holder as set forth in claim 6, wherein said lens comprises:

a mounting portion secured to one of said channel member and said clip;

a transparent viewing wall; and

,

a hinge interconnecting said mounting portion and said transparent viewing wall, said transparent viewing wall adapted for movement between an open position, wherein said transparent viewing wall extends away from said base wall of said channel member, and a closed position, wherein said transparent viewing wall is placed in covering spaced relation with said recess.

14. The electronic price label holder as set forth in claim 13, wherein said hinge of said lens is a living hinge.

2. A holder for an electronic price label, said holder comprising:

a channel member defined by a base wall and first and second spaced-apart sidewalls that project outwardly from opposite ends of the base wall with respective first and second inner faces arranged in opposed facing relation with each other so that said base wall and said first and second sidewalls define a recess with a C-shaped cross-sectional shape for selectively accommodating an associated electronic price label;

a clip connected to said channel member, said clip comprising a base member and a back member interconnected to define an L-shaped cross-sectional shape, said clip further comprising a connecting arm having a first end connected to one of said clip base member and said back member and a second end connected to said channel member, said connecting arm and said clip together defining an L-shaped slot therebetween, said slot adapted to receive and retain therein a projecting portion of an associated retail shelf; and

,

said second end of said connecting arm is connected to said channel member adjacent said first sidewall.

3. The electronic price label holder as set forth in claim 2, wherein said first end of said connecting arm is connected to said clip base member intermediate said clip back member and an innermost tip of said clip base member.

4. The electronic price label holder as set forth in claim 3, wherein said connecting arm is defined by a first segment connected to said clip base member and extending away therefrom, a second segment connected to the first segment and extending toward the clip back member, a third segment connected to the second segment and extending away from the clip base member, and a fourth segment connected to both the third segment and the channel member.

9. A holder for an electronic price label, said holder comprising:

a channel member defined by a base wall and first and second spaced-apart sidewalls that project outwardly from opposite ends of the base wall with respective first and second inner faces arranged in opposed facing relation with each other so that said base wall and said first and second sidewalls define a recess with a C-shaped cross-sectional shape for selectively accommodating an associated electronic price label;

a clip connected to said channel member, said clip comprising a base member and a back member interconnected to define an approximately L-shaped cross-sectional shape, said clip further comprising a connecting arm having a first portion connected to one of said clip base member and said back member and a second portion connected to said channel member, said clip being adapted to receive and retain therein a projecting portion of an associated retail shelf; and

,

a transparent lens selectively positioned in covering spaced relation with said base wall of said channel.

10. The electronic price label holder as set forth in claim 9, wherein said lens includes a viewing wall, and first and second sidewalls projecting outwardly from said viewing wall, said first and second sidewalls of said lens arranged in opposed facing relation to each other and wherein at least one of said first and second sidewalls is adapted for selective releasable connection to an adjacent one of said first and second sidewalls of said channel.

11. The electronic price label holder as set forth in claim 10, wherein said first and second sidewalls of said channel member each respectively define first and second outer faces respectively opposite said first and second inner faces, wherein said first and second outer faces each define a lens retention groove, and wherein said first and second sidewalls of said lens each define a projection adapted for selective receipt in said lens retention grooves, respectively.

12. The electronic price label holder as set forth in claim 9, wherein said lens includes a viewing wall and at least one finger projecting away from said viewing wall.

15. A holder for an electronic price label, said holder comprising:

a channel member defined by a base wall and first and second spaced-apart sidewalls that project outwardly from opposite ends of the base wall with respective first and second inner faces arranged in opposed facing relation with each other so that said base wall and said first and second sidewalls define a recess with a C-shaped cross-sectional shape for selectively accommodating an associated electronic price label;

a clip connected to said channel member, said clip comprising a base member and a back member interconnected to define an approximately L-shaped cross-sectional shape, said clip further comprising a connecting arm having a first portion connected to one of said clip base member and said back member and a second portion connected to said channel member, said connecting arm and said clip together defining an approximately L-shaped slot therebetween, said slot adapted to receive and retain therein a projecting portion of an associated retail shelf; and

,

said base wall of said channel member comprises a protrusion that projects into said recess, said protrusion being adapted to abut a rear surface of an associated electronic price label positioned in said recess.

16. An apparatus for holding an associated electronic price label, said holding apparatus comprising:

a channel member defined by a base wall and first and second spaced-apart sidewalls that project outwardly from opposite ends of the base wall with respective first and second inner faces arranged in opposed facing relation with each other so that said base wall and said first and second sidewalls define a recess with a C-shaped cross-sectional shape, said first and second inner faces each defining a groove that extends parallel to said base wall whereby an associated electronic price label is adapted for receipt in said recess between said first and second sidewalls and adjacent said base wall with first and second projections of said associated electronic price label respectively positioned in said first and second grooves; and

,

a mounting portion including an L-shaped clip member connected to said channel member by a connecting element, said connecting element having a first end connected to said clip member and a second end connected to said channel member, an upwardly opening slot spaced from said channel member, being defined between said L-shaped clip member and said connecting member for accommodating a depending portion of an associated retail fixture.

17. A holder for an electronic price label, said holder comprising:

a channel member defined by a base wall and first and second spaced-apart sidewalls that project outwardly from opposite ends of the base wall with respective first and second inner faces arranged in opposed facing relation with each other so that said base wall and said first and second sidewalls define a recess with a C-shaped cross-section; and

,

a clip connected to said channel member, said clip comprising a base member and a back member interconnected to define an approximately L-shaped cross-sectional shape, said clip further comprising a connecting arm having a first portion connected to said clip and a second portion connected to said channel member, said connecting arm and said clip together defining a slot spaced from said channel member and adapted to receive and retain therein a portion of an associated retail shelf.

18. The electronic price label holder as set forth in claim 17, wherein said connecting arm is defined by a first segment connected to said clip and a second segment connected to the first segment and extending away from said channel member.

19. An apparatus for holding an associated electronic price label, said holding apparatus comprising:

a channel member defined by a base wall and first and second spaced-apart sidewalls that project outwardly from opposite ends of the base wall with respective first and second inner faces arranged in opposed facing relation with each other so that said base wall and said first and second sidewalls define a recess with a C-shaped cross-sectional shape, said first and second inner faces each defining a groove that extends parallel to said base wall whereby an associated electronic price label is adapted for receipt in said recess between said first and second sidewalls and adjacent said base wall with first and second projections of said associated electronic price label respectively positioned in said first and second grooves;

a mounting portion including a clip member connected to said channel member by a connecting element, said connecting element having a first portion connected to said clip member and a second portion connected to said channel member, an upwardly opening slot being defined by said clip member for accommodating a depending portion of an associated retail fixture; and

,

a transparent lens selectively positioned in covering spaced relation with said base wall of said channel.