WO1998003957A1

WO1998003957A1 - Pivoting label holder for merchandise display hook

Info

Publication number: WO1998003957A1
Application number: PCT/US1997/012659
Authority: WO
Inventors: David R. Thalenfeld; Thomas O. Nagel
Original assignee: Trion Industries, Inc.
Priority date: 1996-07-22
Filing date: 1997-07-18
Publication date: 1998-01-29
Also published as: AU4042097A

Abstract

A merchandise display hook provided with an improved form of pivoting label holder (30). A label-mounting arm (17) extends above a merchandise display arm (12) and supports a transversely disposed cross bar (24). The cross bar (24) provides a pivot mount for a plastic label holding device (30). The label holder (30) includes a cross bar engaging clip portion (38) with integral, outwardly and downwardly extending guide flanges (41). The guide flanges (41) include outward ends which form an entrance which is wider than the radius of the cross bar (24). The inside ends are closer to the back panel (31) than the radius of the cross bar (24). In one embodiment, the outward ends of the guide flanges (41) contact the cross bar (24) at points beyond the point of tangency so that the cross bar (24) slides easily under the guide flanges (41).

Description

PIVOTING LABEL HOLDER FOR MERCHANDISE DISPLAY HOOK

Related Applications

This application is a Continuation-in-Part of our copending U.S. Application Serial No. 08/640,336, filed April 30, 1996.

Field of the Invention

This invention pertains to the field of merchandise display hooks and, in particular, to merchandise display hooks with labels.

Background and Summary of the Invention

Display hooks, typically mounted on apertured panel board, slotted panels or the like are in widespread usage for displaying carded merchandise for sale. In many cases, such merchandise display hooks are combined with label-mounting means for presenting product information and pricing in association with the carded merchandise. A common form of such label-mounting means consists of an arm projecting above and generally parallel to a merchandise supporting arm and mounting a label-holding device at its forward extremity, advantageously in a position directly in front of the outer end of the merchandise display hook. The label-holding device, in such cases, serves an additional function as a means for guarding the outer end of the display hook element against accidental contact.

One of the known label-mounting means for this purpose comprises a wire-like element extending outward, above the merchandise support, and terminating at its outer extremity in a welded-on cross bar element. The cross bar element serves as a pivoting support for a plastic label holder, allowing the label holder to hang downward in front of the outer end of the merchandise support. The pivoting action of the label holder facilitates product removal from the associated product support. If a product being withdrawn forwardly from its display hook engages the plastic label holder, the holder can simply pivot upward out of the way as necessary to allow the product to clear. An additional advantage of pivoting label holders in general is that, with respect to product items displayed at a low level, viewing of the product information and pricing is facilitated by allowing the customer to simply reach down and tilt the label holder upwardly, rather than having to bend or crouch to read the contents of the label.

Known label holders typically have a flange which projects rearwardly from the upper edge of the back panel and includes a U-shaped retaining portion which defines a recess sized to receive the cross bar element. The free end of the U-shaped portion is spaced from the back panel of the label holder and defines an entry gap through which the cross bar may pass to enter the retaining clip. To allow the cross bar to open the retaining clip, the entry gap of these prior devices must be of significantly greater width than the radius of the cross bar to accommodate installation of the label holder. This relatively wide opening, however, allows the label to become dislodged easily from the cross bar.

U.S. Patent No. 5,442,872 discloses a somewhat improved label holder for mounting a label holder on a pivot pin. The label holder includes a U-shaped retaining portion extending from the back panel and a guide flange extending outwardly and downwardly from the free end of the U-shaped portion. The guide flange forms a tapered opening and an entry gap, which is somewhat narrower than the pivot pin. The guide flange of the oser device does provide for improved attachment of a label holder, however, since the entry gap is only slightly narrower than the pivot pin, the label holder can become dislodged easily.

The present invention is directed to a merchandise display hook of the general type described above, including a pivoted label holder arrangement, which is both improved with respect to known constructions and is at the same time capable of more economical manufacture. To this end, the device of the invention includes a cross bar element, for pivotal support of a label holder at a position closely adjacent the end extremity thereof. In one form of the invention, the retaining clip of the label holder includes a guide flange integrally connected to the U-shaped portion thereof. The guide flange extends downwardly and outwardly from the free end of the U-shaped portion at an angle of approximately 45° relative to the back surface of the label holder. The guide flange, which forms a tapered entrance into the retaining clip, includes an outward end which is positioned from the back panel of the label holder at a distance greater than the radius of the guide bar so that the guide bar may easily slide underneath. The other end of the guide flange is integrally connected with the U-shaped portion of the retaining clip and forms a narrow entry gap which is smaller than the radius of the guide bar so that the guide bar, once installed, is securely held within the retaining clip.

For a more complete understanding of the above and other features and advantages of the invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention and to the accompanying drawings.

Description of the Drawings

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one preferred embodiment of a merchandise display hook according to the invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary side elevational view, illustrating front portions of the display hook of Fig. 1, showing a label-holding device in a normal or rest position.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side elevational view, similar to Fig. 2, illustrating the label-holding device in an upwardly pivoted position.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the device as shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a second preferred embodiment of the label holder of the invention showing the relative dimensions of the label holder and cross bar.

Fig. 6 is a side elevational view of one preferred embodiment of the label holder of the invention.

Description of a Preferred Embodiment

Referring now to the drawing, the reference numeral 10 designates a section of apertured panel board provided with a grid of openings 11. Conventionally, the openings 11 are provided over the entire surface of the panel 10 and are spaced uniformly, both horizontally and vertically. A merchandise display hook 12 is conventionally provided with mounting lugs (not shown) which are inserted through an adjacent pair of apertures 11 in the board 10 in order to support the merchandise hook 12 in the manner illustrated in Fig. 1, with operative portions of the display hook extending outward from the face of the panel board.

In the device illustrated in Figs. 1-4, the hook 12 includes a merchandise supporting element 13 in the form of a loop hook. The loop hook comprises outwardly extending parallel wire supports 14, 15, joined at the outer end by a U-shaped bend 16. L-shaped mounting lugs (not shown) are provided at the innermost end extremities of the wire sections 14, 15. A label supporting arm 17 extends above and generally parallel to the merchandise support 13 , with the outer end portion 18 of the arm 17 positioned slightly beyond and slightly above the end extremity 16 of the merchandise supporting loop hook 12. At its inner end, the label support 17 has a downwardly extending leg 19 which is welded to a transverse cross bar 20. The cross bar 20 is in turn welded to the respective legs 14, 15 of the loop hook, as indicated at 21, 22. The lower end extremity 23 of the leg 19 projects below the level of the loop hook and is arranged to engage the front surface of the apertured panel 12, serving as a support to maintain the generally horizontal orientation of the merchandise support 12. In the device shown in Figs. 1-4, the outer end portion 18 of the label support 17 is bent downward at a substantial angle, preferably about 60° or so to the horizontal, and in preferred constructions at an angle less than 90°. A label supporting cross bar 24 is welded to the outer surface of the end portion 18, at a point spaced above and rearwardly of the outer end face 25 of the wire end section 18. As shown particularly in Figs. 1 and 4, the cross bar 24 is mounted symmetrically on the wire section 18, with end portions 26 thereof, extending laterally on each side.

Mounted on the cross bar 24 is a plastic label holder, generally designated by the reference numeral 30.

The label holder is preferably of extruded or coextruded semi-rigid, plastic construction and comprises a flat back panel 31 joined along a bottom edge 32 with a clear front panel 33. The front and back panels 33, 31, and the bottom connection 32 are so arranged that the front panel tends to close elastically against the front face of the back panel 31. However, by pressing rearwardly against the bottom portion 32, the upper lip 34 of the front panel can be sprung forward from the back panel 31 to accommodate the placement and retrieval of product information and pricing labels 35. Desirably, a forwardly projecting guard flange 36 is provided along the upper edge of the back panel 31, to normally overlie the upper edge 34 of the front panel.

A hinge-forming flange 37 projects rearwardly from the upper edge of the back panel 31 and includes a U- shaped retaining clip portion 38 defining a forwardly facing U-shaped recess 39 of a size to receive the cross bar element 24. At its lower edge extremity 40, the U- shaped flange portion 38 supports an integral, downwardly and outwardly divergent guide flange 41. The guide flange 41 is angled downwardly at about 45° with respect to the plane of the back panel 31 and extends for a sufficient distance to provide a relatively wide entrance 42 through which the guide bar 24 may be pressed when installing the label holder on the cross bar. The outer end 46 of the guide flange 41 is positioned from the back panel 31 at a distance greater than half the diameter of the cross bar 24 so that the cross bar 24 may easily slide underneath the guide flange 41 and into the retaining clip 38. The lower extremity 40 and the guide flange 41 are integrally connected at a point which is positioned from the back panel 31 at a distance which is less than half the diameter of the cross bar 24 forming a tapered entrance into the recess 39 so that, once inserted, the cross bar 24 is securely held in the retaining clip. Thus, by placing the guide flange 41 in contact with a cross bar 24 and pressing downward on the top of the retaining flange 37, the lower portion of the retaining flange will be cammed open by the guide flange 41. As soon as the cross bar 24 enters the chamber 39, the retaining flange 37 elastically closes to the position shown in Figs. 2 and 3, so that the label holder is reliably connected to the cross bar 24 while being free to pivot with respect thereto.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 6, the guide flange 41 may consist of a relatively short arm which, as discussed above, extends to a point beyond the center of the cross bar.

As shown in Fig. 7, the outward end 46 of the guide flange 41 can also extend beyond the point of contact with cross bar 24 so that the cross bar 24, when it is pressed against the guide flange 41, can easily slide underneath.

As shown in Figs. 6 and 7, in one typical form of display hook the diameter and radius at the cross bar 24 may be approximately 0.177 and 0.0886 inches, respectively. In a label holder designed for use in connection with such a display hook, the guide flange 41 preferably has a length of approximately 0.227 to 0.134 in. and forms approximately a 45 degree angle with respect to the back panel 31 at the label holder 30 so that the guide flange 41 extends beyond the point of contact with the cross bar 24. The end 46 of the guide flange is preferably spaced from the back panel 31 at a distance of approximately 0.2 in. such that it forms an entrance opening greater than the radius of the cross bar 24. To advantage, the lower extremity 40 of the U-shaped flange portion 38 forms a narrow entry gap 48 having a width of approximately 0.039 to 0.079 in. so that the entry gap 48 is less than the radius of the cross bar 24. Also, the recess 39 has a minimum dimension of approximately 0.19 in. so that the cross bar 24 may rotate freely therewithin.

Although the diameters (and strength) of the merchandise support arm 13 may vary, depending upon the load to be carried, the dimension of the cross bar 24 is independent of the support arm 13 and may remain constant. This permits the label holder to be of a common design for display hooks of various sizes.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 4, the retaining flange portions 37, 38, and the guide flange 41, are slotted at 43, in the center of the label holder, so that inner side edges 44 of the slotted portion straddle the wire end section 18, and serve to maintain the label holder properly centered with respect to the label support arm 17. The width of the slot 43 should be slightly wider than the diameter of the label support arm 17 so that the label support arm 17 may pivot freely.

It should be understood, of course, that the specific form of the invention herein illustrated and described is intended to be representative only. In this respect, the specific form of the merchandise display hook employing the new label-mounting feature may take any of a variety of forms. Likewise, the plastic label holder itself may be constructed in various ways consistent with the present invention. Accordingly, reference should be made to the following appended claims in determining the full scope of the invention.

Claims

We Claim: 1. A merchandise display hook with pivoting label holder, which comprises, (a) an outwardly extending label holder arm, (b) means associated with an inner end of said label holder arm for mounting said arm on a support structure, (c) a cross bar member of predetermined diameter fixed to an outer end of said label holder arm and extending transversely thereof for the support of a label holder, (d) a label holder mounted on said label holder arm for retaining a product information label and having a back panel, (e) said label holder including at least one cross bar engaging clip portion extending rearwardly and downwardly with respect to said back panel and loosely partially encircling said cross bar, (f) said cross bar engaging clip portion and said label holder being freely pivotally mounted on said cross bar to accommodate easy product removal from a position below said label holder arm, and (g) said cross bar engaging clip portion having a guide flange portion angled outwardly and downwardly with respect to said back panel, said guide flange having an outward end portion spaced from said back panel at a distance greater than one half of the diameter of said cross bar member and having an inward end portion spaced from said back panel at a distance less than one half of the diameter of said cross bar forming a tapered entrance into a recess within said clip portion so that said label holder may be mounted by pressing said cross bar between said back panel and said guide flange and such that, once installed, said cross bar member is securely held by said engaging clip portion.

2. A merchandise display hook according to claim 1 further comprising two spaced-apart cross bar engaging clip portions, said clip portions engaging said cross bar on opposite sides of said label holder arm to center and secure said label holder.

3. A merchandise display hook according to claim 2 wherein said guide flange forms a substantially 45° angle with respect to said back panel.

4. A merchandise display hook according to claim 3 wherein said guide flange contacts said cross bar at a point of tangency and has an end which extends beyond said point of tangency.

5. A pivoting label holder for a merchandise display hook with a cross bar fixed to an outer end thereof, the label holder comprising: (a) a back panel, (b) at least one cross bar engaging clip portion extending rearwardly and downwardly with respect to said back panel and loosely partially encircling said cross bar, (c) said cross bar engaging clip portion and said label holder being freely pivotally mounted on said cross bar to accommodate easy product removal from a position below said outer end of said merchandise display hook, and (d) said cross bar engaging clip portion having a guide flange portion angled outwardly and downwardly with respect to said back panel, said guide flange having an outward end portion spaced from said back panel at a distance greater than one half of a diameter of said cross bar member and having an inward end portion spaced from said back panel at a distance less than one half of the diameter of said cross bar forming a tapered entrance into a recess within said clip portion so that said label holder may be mounted by pressing said cross bar between said back panel and said guide flange and such that, once installed, said cross bar member is securely held by said engaging clip portion.

6. A pivoting label holder according to claim 5 further comprising two spaced-apart cross bar engaging clip portions, for engaging said cross bar on opposite sides of said outer end of said merchandise display hook to center and secure said label holder.

7. A pivoting label holder according to claim 6 wherein said guide flange is substantially linear and forms a substantially 45° angle with respect to said back panel.

8. A pivoting lable holder according to claim 7 wherein said guide flange contacts said cross bar at a point of tangency and has an end which extends beyond said point of tangency.

AMENDED CLAIMS

[received by the International Bureau on 11 November 1997 (11.11.97); original claim 1 amended; remaining claims unchanged (2 pages)]

1. A merchandise display hook with pivoting label holder, which comprises, (a) an outwardly extending label holder arm, (b) means associated with an inner end of said label holder arm for mounting said arm on a support structure, (c) a cylindrical cross bar member of predetermined diameter fixed to an outer end of said label holder arm and extending transversely thereof for the support of a label holder, (d) a label holder mounted on said label holder arm for retaining a product information label and having a back panel, (e) said label holder including at least one cross bar engaging clip portion extending rearwardly and downwardly with respect to said back panel and loosely partially encircling said cross bar, (f) said cross bar engaging clip portion and said label holder being freely pivotally mounted on said cross bar to accommodate easy product removal from a position below said label holder arm, and (g) said cross bar engaging clip portion having a guide flange portion angled outwardly and downwardly with respect to said back panel, said guide flange having an outward end portion spaced from said back panel at a distance greater than one half of the diameter of said cylindrical cross bar member and having an inward end portion spaced from said back panel at a distance less than one half of the diameter of said cross bar forming a tapered entrance into a recess within said clip portion so that said label holder may be mounted by pressing said cross bar between said back panel and said guide flange and such that, once installed, said cross bar member is securely held by said engaging clip portion.

2. A merchandise display hook according to claim l further comprising two spaced-apart cross bar engaging clip portions, said clip portions engaging said cross bar on opposite sides of said label holder arm to center and secure said label holder.

5. A pivoting label holder for a merchandise display hook with a cross bar fixed to an outer end thereof, the label holder comprising: (a) a back panel, (b) at least one cross bar engaging clip portion extending rearwardly and downwardly with respect to said