Product information assembly

Abstract

A product information assembly, including a main body portion, a self-coiling information sheet, and a mounting structure. The main body portion may define a slot. The self-coiling information sheet may extend through the slot and may include a first end retained behind the main body portion and a second end positioned in front of the main body portion. The self-coiling information sheet may be operative in a display mode in which substantially all of the self-coiling information sheet is extended in front of the main body portion and a coiled mode in which substantially all of the self-coiling information sheet is coiled behind the main body portion.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front view of a product information assembly according to the teachings of the present invention, a self-coiling information sheet of the product information assembly shown in a coiled mode.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the product information assembly, the self-coiling information sheet shown in a display mode.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the product information assembly of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an environmental view illustrating a product information assembly of the present invention mounting to a laterally extending handle of an exemplary shopping cart.

FIG. 5 is a side view of a pair of shopping carts, each shopping cart provided with a product information assembly in accordance with the present invention, the shopping carts shown nested such that one of the product information assemblies rotates from a first position to a second position to accommodate the nesting.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a product information assembly of the present invention shown operatively connected to a pegboard.

FIG. 7A is a perspective view of a product information assembly of the present invention shown operatively connected to an underside of a shelf.

FIG. 7B is another perspective view of the product information assembly of FIG. 7A, shown removed from the exemplary environment for purposes of illustration.

FIG. 8A is a perspective view of another product information assembly of the present invention shown operatively attached to a front surface of a shelf.

FIG. 8B is another perspective view of the production information assembly of FIG. 8A, shown removed from the shelf for purposes of illustration.

FIG. 9A is a perspective view of another production information assembly shown operatively attached to a wire shelf.

FIG. 9B is another perspective view of the production information assembly of FIG. 9A, shown removed from the wire shelf for purposes of illustration.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of another production information assembly of the present invention shown operatively secured to a structural upright.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of another product information assembly in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 12A is another perspective view of a product information assembly construction in accordance with the present invention shown operatively associated with a structural upright.

FIG. 12B is another perspective view of the product information assembly of FIG. 12A, shown removed from the structural upright for purposes of illustration.

Claims

1. A product information assembly in combination with a grocery cart, the grocery cart of the type adapted to nestably stack with similar grocery carts, the product information assembly comprising: a main body portion defining a slot;a mounting portion extending from the main body portion and securing the product information assembly to a laterally extending handle of the grocery cart, the mounting portion defining a mounting portion pivot axis which allows the main body portion to rotate between a first position and a second position, the first position being an operative position and the second position allowing nesting of the grocery cart with a similar grocery cart; anda self-coiling information sheet extending through the slot and including a first end retained behind the main body portion and a second end in front of the main body portion, the self-coiling information sheet operative in a display mode in which substantially all of the self-coiling information sheet is extended in front of the main body portion and a coiled mode in which substantially all of the self-coiling information sheet is coiled behind the main body portion.

2. The product information assembly of claim 1, wherein the mounting portion is adhesively secured to the shopping cart.

3. The product information assembly of claim 1, wherein the mounting portion is adhesively secured to the main body portion.

4. The product information assembly of claim 1, wherein the information sheet coils about a coil axis, the coil axis being substantially parallel to the mounting portion pivot axis.

5. The product information assembly of claim 1, wherein the handle of the grocery cart extends along a handle axis, the mounting portion pivot axis being substantially parallel to the handle axis.

6. The product information assembly of claim 1, wherein the mounting portion defines a fold line at the mounting portion pivot axis.

7. A product information assembly comprising: a main body portion defining a slot;a self-coiling information sheet extending through the slot and including a first end retained behind the main body portion and a second end in front of the main body portion, the self-coiling information sheet operative in a display mode in which substantially all of the self-coiling information sheet is extended in front of the main body portion and a coiled mode in which substantially all of the self-coiling information sheet is coiled behind the main body portion; anda mounting structure for interconnecting the main body portion to one of a pegboard, a shelf, or a structural upright.

8. The product information assembly of claim 7, wherein the mounting structure includes an adhesive element for attachment to the main body portion.

9. The product information assembly of claim 7, wherein the mounting structure includes a bracket connected to the main body portion.

10. The product information assembly of claim 9, wherein the bracket is adapted to engage holes of a pegboard.

11. The product information assembly of claim 10, wherein the mounting structure further includes an arm extending from the bracket.

12. The product information assembly of claim 9, wherein the bracket is adapted to releasably connect to a shelf.

13. The product information assembly of claim 12, wherein the bracket is adapted to attack to an underside of the shelf.

14. The product information assembly of claim 12, wherein the bracket is adapted to attack to a front surface of the shelf.

15. The product information assembly of claim 12, wherein the bracket is adapted to attach a wire shelf.

16. The product information assembly of claim 12, wherein the mounting structure further includes a suction cup, the bracket connecting the suction cup and the main body portion.

17. A method of providing product information on a grocery cart, the grocery cart of the type adapted to nestably stack with similar grocery carts, the method comprising the steps of: providing a product information assembly including a main body portion defining a slot and a self-coiling information sheet extending through the slot and including a first end retained behind the main body portion and a second end in front of the main body portion, the self-coiling information sheet operative in a display mode in which substantially all of the self-coiling information sheet is extended in front of the main body portion and a coiled mode in which substantially all of the self-coiling information sheet is coiled behind the main body portion;mounting the main body portion to an internally extending handle of the shopping cart; andmoving the main body portion from a first position to a second position to accommodate nesting of the shopping cart with another similar shopping cart.

18. The method of providing product information on a shopping cart of claim 17, wherein the step of moving the main body portion from a first position to a second position includes the step of rotating the main body portion about a pivot axis.

19. The method of providing product information on a shopping cart of claim 18, wherein the pivot axis is substantially parallel to the laterally extending handle.

20. The method of providing product information on a shopping cart of claim 19, wherein the step of mounting the main body portion to a laterally extending handle of the shopping cart includes the step of providing a mounting portion, the mounting portion defining a fold line at the pivot axis.