This disclosure generally relates to retail shelf signage and, in particular, to retail shelf edge flags extending outwardly away from the shelf edge.
Edge flags are blank or pre-printed with non-variable information. This information is first printed on one side of the flag, than the other side. The finished flag is then inserted into a shelf clip. Other flags may be printed on card stock (or left blank and made out of card stock), cut out, and then folded over. However, the front and back sides bow out when inserted into the shelf clip.
Embodiments of a flag for use along a retail shelf edge is made using a pop-out design arranged on a digital or laser printable sheet so that desired variable information can be printed on the front and back sides of the flag without duplexing the sheet.
The flag's pop-out design eliminates the labor and other difficulties associated with perforated designs. The pop-out design also allows the liner to remain with the face stock to add necessary stiffness to the flag, a beneficial feature for final installation purposes. Once the flag is popped-out of the sheet, the exposed adhesive allows the front and back sides of the flag to fold onto each other. A cross-cut or perforated hole in the flag's tab allows the shelf clip to pierce the folded tag.
This description of a printable sheet containing a flag for a retail shelf fixture makes reference to particular means, materials and embodiments, but is not intended to be limited to those particulars. Rather, the sheet extends to all functionally equivalent structures, methods and uses that fall within the scope of the claims that immediately follow the description.
Referring to the drawings, a laser printer printable flag 10 for a retail shelf fixture or edge 37 is made from a laser printable sheet 20 custom cut with a pop-out flag design. The sheet 20 is a 2-ply pressure-sensitive media which includes face stock 21, an adhesive layer 35, and a liner 25. (Adhesive is attached to back of face sheet.) The pop-out design includes a face cut 23 (to the adhesive layer 35) and a back cut 27 (through the liner 25). The distance between the face and back cuts 23, 27 provides an exposed adhesive border 29 around the flag 10 when removed from the sheet 20.
The pop-out design eliminates the labor and other difficulties associated with perforated flag designs. The pop-out design also allows for reliable laser printing feed path integrity and strength, with the liner 25 remaining with the face stock 21 to add necessary stiffness to the flag 10 when installed (see e.g.
The flag design, which can be any suitable shape 40 (e.g., square, rectangular, circular, polygonal-shaped other than square or rectangular), is arranged on the sheet 20 so that the front and back information 13, 17 on the flag 10 is printed in a side-by-side format, separated by a crease cut or perforated cut 33 through the liner 25. This eliminates the need to duplex the sheet 20 in the printer. The front and back sides 11, 15 of the flag 10 each provide an uninterrupted solid surface within the shape 40 on which to print the front and back information 13, 17. See e.g.
When the flag 10 is removed from (popped-out of the sheet 20), a void area 24 is left on the sheet 20. The exposed adhesive trim 29 on the front 11 and back 15 of the flag 10 sticks to itself when the flag 10 is folded on itself. In this way, the flag 10 does not bow out when assembled like traditional folded cardstock, but instead remains flat and stuck to itself. When in this folded state the front and back sides 11, 15 define a predetermined geometric shape 40 of the flag 10 and the tab 19 extends outward of the geometric shape 14. See e.g.
A tab 19 extends from a print area 22 of each side 11, 15 of the flag 10. The tab 19 is smaller in width and height than that of the print area 22. A perforated hole or t-shaped or cross-shaped cut 31 may be included in the tab 19 to allow the shelf clip 38 to pierce the folded hanging tab 19. In other embodiments, the tab 19 may be bent for retention along a retail shelf edge 37. In embodiments the tab 19 is located opposite the fold line 33 and along a horizontal centerline 41 of the flag 10, the fold line 33 being located along the vertical centerline 43 when unfolded, where horizontal and vertical are determined by the intended correct orientation of the flag 10 when connected to a retail shelf clip 38. See e.g.
The following claims include the full range of equivalents to which recited element is entitled.
This application claims priority to U.S. Ser. No. 15/446,883, filed Mar. 1, 2017, which in turn claimed priority to U.S. 62/301,958, filed Mar. 1, 2016.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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62301958 | Mar 2016 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 15446883 | Mar 2017 | US |
Child | 15834867 | US |