Patent Application
20050133676
The present invention relates generally label holder, and, more particularly, relates to a label holder for attachment to a shelf price channel.
This invention relates to a label holder for mounting on channels of shelves for shelf units and the like. Typical shelf units are Lozier or Madix brand shelving units that provide arcuate shelf channels (a.k.a. “C-channels”) for holding product information labels or for holding label holders for replaceable labels that are insertable into a clear sleeve. Label holders are typically extruded from a resilient plastic and include at least a clear front panel behind which a product information label can be inserted. Known label holders can be difficult to install and if they are easy to install, they may be unstable or subject to dislodging. What is needed is an improved label holder design with ease of installation and robust stability.
The invention provides an improved label holder mountable on a shelf channel. The label holder includes a front panel, a back panel connected to the front panel along a common bottom with a label receptacle cavity therebetween. The label holder also has a top flange along a top of the back panel and a shelf clip portion attached to the back panel along the top flange. The shelf clip portion includes an upward retaining flange for engaging the shelf and includes a downward angled portion terminating in a catch flange and a curved resilient hinge portion that wraps around the catch flange and terminates in an upward flange. The shelf clip portion provides resilient clamping onto the shelf. The upward and catch flanges are configured to engage upper and lower shelf channel flanges for retention.
Another embodiment is directed to a label holder mounted on the C-channel of a shelf, in which the C-channel includes a top support flange, an inwardly curving support panel and a lower support flange. The label holder includes a front translucent panel, a back panel connected to the front panel along a bottom portion, said front panel and said back panel forming a cavity therebetween, and a protective flange is provided along a top portion of the back panel. The label holder also includes a shelf clip portion with an upward retaining flange for engaging the top support flange of said shelf and a downward angled portion terminating in a catch flange secured by the lower support flange of the shelf and a curved resilient hinge portion that wraps around the catch flange and engages the back side of curved shelf panel of the C-channel. The retaining flange can be configured to respond to upward movement of the back panel to secure the retaining flange against the shelf.
Other aspects, objectives and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
Turning now to the drawings, an embodiment of the present invention is depicted in
Referring now to
All references, including publications, patent applications, and patents, cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each reference were individually and specifically indicated to be incorporated by reference and were set forth in its entirety herein.
The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing” are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, but not limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention.
Preferred embodiments of this invention are described herein, including the best mode known to the inventors for carrying out the invention. Variations of those preferred embodiments may become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. The inventors expect skilled artisans to employ such variations as appropriate, and the inventors intend for the invention to be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, this invention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.
