(19)
(11) EP 1 050 253 B1

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION

(45) Mention of the grant of the patent:
21.07.2004 Bulletin 2004/30

(21) Application number: 00500087.2

(22) Date of filing: 05.05.2000
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7A47F 5/00, G09F 3/20

(54)

Label holders for display shelves

Etikettenhalter für Ausstellungsregale

Support d'étiquette pour étagères de présentation


(84) Designated Contracting States:
AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE
Designated Extension States:
RO SI

(30) Priority: 07.05.1999 ES 9901194

(43) Date of publication of application:
08.11.2000 Bulletin 2000/45

(73) Proprietor: Kider, S.A.
01479 Murga (Alava) (ES)

(72) Inventor:
  • Ortiz Alonso, José Antonio
    01009 Vitoria (ES)

(74) Representative: Davila Baz, Angel 
c/o Clarke, Modet & Co., Goya, 11
28001 Madrid
28001 Madrid (ES)


(56) References cited: : 
WO-A-98/32115
FR-A- 2 744 825
US-A- 5 473 833
FR-A- 2 688 086
NL-C- 1 004 388
   
       
    Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to the European patent granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall not be deemed to have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent Convention).


    Description


    [0001] The present invention relates to a label holder for display shelves, designed to be installed in display shelves of shops and warehouses in order to provide customers with information regarding prices, reference numbers, weight or other characteristics of the displayed products, as known from the document WO 98/ 32115.

    [0002] Labels which provide the information indicated must be easily accessible in their holders, as they generally need to be changed frequently when the product, price, etc. changes.

    [0003] Label holders are known with the above object, comprising a support of a short length compared to that of the display normally attached to the central part of the shelves and with means for receiving the label on its front. The label holder may accidentally move along the front of the shelf, ending up placed in front of a different product and thus offering incorrect information. In addition, it is typical for the label to be unprotected so that it may wear prematurely.

    [0004] The object of the present invention is to solve the aforementioned problems by means of a label holder constructed so that the label positioning is ensured and also providing protection for these against dirt and wear.

    [0005] The label holder of the invention is designed for display shelves ending in a longitudinal frontal groove and comprises a grooved bar mounted inverted and straddling the outer wall of the front groove of the display shelf. The label holder further incorporates an elongated transparent plate mounted on the outer surface of the external wall of the grooved bar.

    [0006] The bar which comprises the label bearer is provided on the face which is inserted in the front groove of the shelf with a shape which ensure its secure attachment to said groove, while the outer wall of the bar ends at its lower free end in a longitudinal recess open on the top.

    [0007] The transparent plate is equal in length to the bar and its lower edge ends in a longitudinal ribbing which has an approximately equal cross section to the recess which ends the external wall of the grooved bar. The aforementioned recess and ribbing can have a dovetail section.

    [0008] The outer wall of the grooved profile and the transparent plate show a slight transverse shape which ensures that the transparent plate is elastically pushed by its upper part towards the outer part of the bar. At its longitudinal upper edge the transparent plate ends in a longitudinal tab inclined forwards, which simplifies its separation from the external wall of the grooved bar in order to insert or remove labels.

    [0009] These and further characteristics of the invention will become apparent in view of the following description made with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which an example is shown of a non limiting embodiment.

    [0010] In the drawings:

    [0011] Figure 1 shows a perspective exploded view of the label holder constructed according to the invention to be installed on a display shelf.

    [0012] Figure 2 is a perspective partial view of the shelf of figure 1 with the label holder installed.

    [0013] Figure 3 is a cross section of the label holder of the invention mounted on the front groove of a display shelf.

    [0014] Figure 1 shows a display shelf (1) ending on the front in a longitudinal groove (2).

    [0015] The label holder of the invention comprises a grooved bar (3) equal in length to shelf (1). Said bar (3) is mounted inverted and straddling the external wall (4) of longitudinal groove (2) of shelf (1), as can be better appreciated in figure (1).

    [0016] Grooved bar (3) is provided in its internal wall (5) with a longitudinal formation (6) slightly deeper than the width of front groove (2) of shelf (1). On its part, Wall (4) of the longitudinal groove (2) is provided with an internal longitudinal groove (7) smaller in section than formation (6).

    [0017] With this construction, wall (5) is inserted in groove (2) of shelf (1) under pressure, elastically deforming wall (4) of the groove, until formation (6) is coupled to longitudinal groove (7), thus providing a secure means of attachment for bar (3) on groove (2).

    [0018] As may be seen in figure 3, in its free end external wall (8) of grooved bar (3) ends in a longitudinal recess open on the top which may adopt a dove tail section shape.

    [0019] The label holder of the invention is completed by a transparent plate (10) which is equal in length to grooved bar (3) and which is shaped so that it may couple to the external surface of outer wall (8) of said bar, as may be seen in figure 3. For this reason plate (10), made of a transparent material, ends at its lower edge in a longitudinal ribbing (11) of cross section approximately equal to that of recess (9), so that it may be inserted in the same by sliding longitudinally, so that plate (10) moves along the wall (8) of grooved bar (3), against which it is pushed from the top, because of the transverse bend of wall (8). In its top edge plate (10) ends in a longitudinal tab (12) which, as is seen in the inset of figure 3, is provided with rear striations (13) which can be pushed in the direction of arrow A in order to separate plate (10) up to the position shown by the dotted line and labelled (10a) in order to insert and remove a label.

    [0020] Grooved bar (3) may be made from shaped cold rolled steel. Plate (10) shall be flexible to allow its separation in the manner shown in figure 3 in order to insert and remove labels.

    [0021] As grooved bar (3) and transparent plate (10) can be approximately equal in length to shelf (1), the problem of an accidental sliding of the label holder is solved.

    [0022] Furthermore, as the label is protected by plate (10) it is protected from dirt and wear.

    [0023] Grooved bar (3) may be treated with a traditional coating of epoxy, electrostatic paint, chrome plating, etc. all abrasion and rust resistant, as well as providing a decorative finish in combination with display shelves (1) present in the shop.

    [0024] Grooved bar (3) and plate (10) may be transversally limited by brackets (14), figures 1 and 2 of the display shelf, thus securing its position.


    Claims

    1. Label holder for display shelves, particularly for shelves ending in a longitudinal grooved front, the label holder comprises a grooved bar, mounted inverted and straddling the external wall of the frontal groove of the display shelf, and a transparent plate which is mounted on the external surface of the grooved bar; characterised in that the grooved bar is provided, in the wall which is inserted into the frontal groove of the display shelf, of a transverse shaping which secures its attachment in said groove, while the free bottom end of its outer wall ends in a longitudinal recess open on the top; and whose transparent plate is approximately equal in length to the bar and ends in a longitudinal ribbing of cross section approximately equal to that of the recess which ends the external wall of the grooved bar.
     
    2. Label holder as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the longitudinal shaping of the inner wall of the grooved bar is slightly deeper than the width of the front groove of the display shelf, and under pressure partially penetrates an opposing groove of the external wall of the aforementioned groove.
     
    3. Label holder as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the external wall of the grooved bar has a slight transverse bend, with the concave face on the outside, with the top edge of the transparent plate applying a slight pressure on the upper segment of said wall.
     
    4. Label holder as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the recess and ribbing which end the bottom of the external wall of the grooved bar and the lower edge of the transparent plate have a dovetail shaped cross-section.
     
    5. Label holder as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the transparent plate ends on its top in a longitudinal tab inclined forwards.
     


    Ansprüche

    1. Etikettenhalter für Auslageborde, insbesondere für Borde, die in einer längs genuteten Vorderseite enden, wobei der Etikettenhalter eine genutete Schiene, die umgekehrt angebracht ist und die Außenwand des Auslagebords überspannt, und eine transparente Platte umfaßt, die auf der Außenfläche der genuteten Schiene angebracht ist; dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die genutete Schiene in der Wand, die in die vordere Nut des Auslagebords eingefügt ist, mit einer schräg verlaufenden Gestaltung versehen ist, die ihre Anbringung in der Nut sichert, während das freie untere Ende ihrer Außenwand in einer längs verlaufenden Aussparung endet, die auf der Oberseite offen ist; und daß die transparente Platte in der Länge ungefähr gleich der Schiene ist und in einer längs verlaufenden Verrippung mit einem Querschnitt, der ungefähr gleich dem der Aussparung ist, endet, welche die Außenwand der genuteten Schiene abschließt.
     
    2. Etikettenhalter nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die längs verlaufende Gestaltung der Innenwand der genuteten Schiene etwas tiefer als die Breite der vorderen Nut des Auslagebordes ist und unter Druck in eine gegenüberliegende Nut der Außenwand der erstgenannten Nut eindringt.
     
    3. Etikettenhalter nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Außenwand der genuteten Schiene eine leicht schräg verlaufende Biegung mit der konkaven Seite auf der Außenseite aufweist, wobei die Oberkante der transparenten Platte einen leichten Druck auf den oberen Abschnitt der Wand ausübt.
     
    4. Etikettenhalter nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Aussparung und die Verrippung, die die Unterseite der Außenwand der genuteten Schiene abschließen, und die Unterkante der transparenten Platte einen schwalbenschwanzförmigen Querschnitt aufweisen.
     
    5. Etikettenhalter nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die transparente Platte an ihrer Oberseite in einem Schild enden, das nach vorne geneigt ist.
     


    Revendications

    1. Support d'étiquette pour étagères de présentation, et plus particulièrement pour des étagères se terminant dans une face avant rainurée longitudinale, le support d'étiquette comprenant une barre rainurée, montée de manière inversée et enjambant la paroi externe de la rainure frontale de l'étagère de présentation, et une plaque transparente qui est montée sur la surface externe de la barre rainurée ; caractérisé en ce que la barre rainurée est munie, dans la paroi qui est insérée dans la rainure frontale de l'étagère de présentation, d'une forme transversale qui assure sa fixation dans ladite rainure, tandis que l'extrémité inférieure libre de sa paroi externe se termine dans un renfoncement longitudinal situé au sommet ; et en ce que la plaque transparente est de longueur à peu près égale à la barre et se termine dans une nervure longitudinale de section transversale à peu près égale à celle du renfoncement qui finit la paroi externe de la barre rainurée.
     
    2. Support d'étiquette selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que la forme longitudinale de la paroi interne de la barre rainurée est légèrement plus profonde que la largeur de la rainure avant de l'étagère de présentation, et, sous pression, pénètre partiellement dans une rainure opposée de la paroi externe de la rainure susmentionnée.
     
    3. Support d'étiquette selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que la paroi externe de la barre rainurée possède une légère courbure transversale, avec la face concave vers l'extérieur, avec le bord supérieur de la plaque transparente exerçant une légère pression sur le segment supérieur de ladite paroi.
     
    4. Support d'étiquette selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que le renfoncement et la nervure qui terminent le bas de la paroi externe de la barre rainurée et le bord inférieur de la plaque transparente possèdent une section transversale en forme de queue d'aronde.
     
    5. Support d'étiquette selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que la plaque transparente se termine à son sommet en une languette longitudinale inclinée vers l'avant.
     




    Drawing