[0001] The present descriptive memory refers, as its title indicates, to an anchorage system
used for fixing label holders onto shelves, in order to display labels with information
about the prices or any other characteristic of the products stored on the shelves.
[0002] Currently, there are many label holders whose purpose is to house labels with information
about product prices, peculiarities, references, etc. These label holders are usually
fitted to the shelves by means of prehensile pins, or any other type of anchorage
means such as staples, rivets or others. The most common design of the current label
holders for shelves used in shops consists of means of anchorage situated at the back
of a low very long plate or band that can contains a transparent two-sheet strip at
the front, so that the labels can be inserted between both sheets.
[0003] Current label holders, specially the older ones, have the disadvantage of being a
little outdated and, at the same time, very expensive to manufacture, as in many cases
they are single-label holders, i.e. they only hold one label, and therefore their
manufacture and later assembly become expensive.
[0004] As for more recent label holders, it must be said that, although they can house several
labels, they are fixed to the shelves with some rather complicated systems that result
in high manufacturing and handling costs.
[0005] The anchorage system for label holders and shelves which is the subject of the present
invention has been developed as a solution to the existing problems affecting the
shelf and label-holder sector, mainly those used at shops of any type or size. This
system consists of a one-piece label holder designed in such a way that it has a double
low two-sheet strip with variable length at the front, where the labels are inserted,
and some linear pins at the back for fixing it to the shelf.
[0006] The label holder can have an optional small recess at the top end that will allow
it to be positioned in either a vertical or a tilted position.
[0007] Alternatively, the label holder can be made up of a piece of variable thickness,
on whose rear side there are two tilted housings where the linear sections of either
front of the shelf will be inserted. These label holders are completed with a transparent
laminated section of the same shape located at the front and bottom that covers the
whole perimeter of the label holder, in such a way that the labels are inserted between
the laminated section and the label holder. This label holder can also be fitted at
an angle in relation to the shelf thanks to the inclination of the front side in relation
to the vertical anchorage pieces attached to the shelf.
[0008] The dimensions of the shelf can vary, and it consists of a single laminated piece
that, on one or optionally both of its front ends, has a fold that defines a housing
with the shape of a kite tail; the linear pins at the rear of the label holder are
inserted into this housing. Conversely, the sections that form the housing with the
shape of a kite tail will be inserted into the housings situated at the rear of the
optional variable-thickness label holders.
[0009] The anchorage system to attach label holders to shelves that is being put forward
has the advantage of requiring lower manufacturing and assembling costs and, compared
to the existing obsolete models, its modern design is also considered an advantage.
[0010] To better understand the subject of the present invention, the preferred optimal
assembly is represented in the annexed plan. In this plan:
Figure -1- shows a lateral view of the label holder.
Figure -2- shows a front view of the label holder.
Figure -3- shows an enlarged cross-section of the attachment of the label holder to
the shelf where the label holder is tilted.
Figure -4- shows a view similar to the previous one, but the label holder is vertical.
Figure -5- shows a lateral view of a tilted label holder.
Figure -6- shows a front view of the previous figure.
Figure -7- shows an enlarged cross-section of the attachment of the tilted label holder
to the shelf.
Figure -8- shows a lateral view of an optional tilted label holder.
Figure -9- shows a front view of the previous figure.
Figure -10- shows an enlarged cross-section of the attachment of the optional tilted
label holder to the shelf.
Figure -11- shows a lateral view of the variable-thickness label holder.
Figure -12- shows a front view of the previous figure.
Figure -13- shows an enlarged cross-section of the attachment of the variable-thickness
label holder to the shelf.
Figure -14- shows a lateral view of the laminated section that will hold the variable-thickness
label holder.
Figure -15- shows a front view of the previous figure.
Figure -16- shows a cross-section of the variable-thickness label holder inserted
in the laminated section.
Figure -17- shows a cross-section of the variable-thickness label holder with a different
configuration and in a tilted position.
Figure -18- shows the variable-thickness label holder with another configuration in
tilted position.
[0011] The anchorage system for label holders and shelves being put forward consists of,
as can be seen from the figures mentioned above, two basic components: the label holder
(1) and the shelf (2).
[0012] The label holder (1) has a low two-sheet strip with variable length (3) at the front;
the labels are inserted between its sheets, which are joined at the bottom by means
of a radial section (4). The outside sheet ends in a longitudinal section (5) with
the shape of a small inverted U, and the top end of the inside sheet has a T shape
(6) whose inside wing has an angular end (7) slightly tilted upwards. A tilted wall
(8) descends from the end of the inside wing of the T (6); a laminated piece with
a shape similar to a U, whose vertical sections open outwards (9), is attached to
the tilted wall half way up. At the rear of the laminated walls (3), at less than
half their height, there is an horizontal laminated section (10) that at a variable
distance forms an upward angle (11) and ends in an inward angle. Another small tilted
laminated section (12) emerges from the centre of this section (11) and it adopts
a horizontal position before it bends downwards and ends with a small radius. For
the optional tilted position of the laminated walls (3), there is a small recess (13)
in the inside wing of the T (6) at the top of the piece.
[0013] The laminated, preferably rectangular, shelf (2) has several folds (14) annexed to
one or both fronts. The folds define a housing in the shape of a kite tail (15). The
bottom fold (14) is ends horizontally with a small section (16). A detailed description
of the rest of the shelf's features is expressly omitted; as they are not the subject
of any claim.
[0014] Label holder (17) can be an alternative solution to label holder (1): the former
does not have the horizontal wall (10) with its rear extensions (11) and (12), and
therefore can only be placed in a tilted position.
[0015] Another variant is label holder (18), similar to the others except in that the anchorage
pins (19) emerge horizontally from the inside laminated wall (3). The ends of the
said anchorage pins (19) are angled outwards.
[0016] Another alternative to the label holder related to the invention being put forward
is the variable-thickness label holder (20) with a vertical front (21), small radius
at the ends (22), and a small recess (23) at the rear side. At the top end of the
rear side and towards the middle there are some outwards diverging housings (24).
The shelf's (2) annexed folds (14) are inserted into these housings. The label holder
(20) is complemented by a transparent laminated section (25) situated at the front
that ends at the bottom end (23) of the housing.
[0017] Another alternative to label holder (20) is label holder (26), similar to the previous
one except in that its front wall (27) is tilted in relation to the rear side (28).
[0018] Another solution to present the label holder (20) in a tilted position is to fix
a laminated piece (29) on to its rear side (28) using screws (30). The said laminated
piece (29) is made up of a variable length section with a small section tilted inwards
that emerges from the side next to the label holder (20) and a slightly tilted wing
that emerges inwards from the bottom end, in such a way that the label holder (20)
can be anchored by inserting this piece's (29) wings into the shelf's housing (15).
[0019] The way the device is assembled is easily understood: the sections (9) are placed
in front of the housing (15) in the shape of a kite tail and then the label holder
is pushed against the shelf in order to anchor one component on to the other. Alternatively,
the label holder can be inserted into the front of the shelf applying a small, logically
frontal, pressure. As for the placement of the labels, it is extremely simple: the
section (5) can be lifted at any point using its pins, and then the label can be inserted
or removed from the sheets (3).
[0020] Now that the nature of this invention and the optimal way to manufacture it have
been sufficiently described, it only remains to be said that such description is not
restrictive, and that variations are possible without substantially changing the nature
of the invention claimed hereunder.
1. Anchorage system to fix label holders onto shelves where the label holders are made
up of a band with two laminated walls placed at the front, and of projections and
housings placed at the rear that are inserted into the shelves' front. Therefore,
the system consists of two components closely related: the label holder -1- and the
shelf -2-. The label holder's top end has a T shape -6- whose inside wing has a slightly
upward angular end -7-. A laminated wall -8- descends also from this end of the T
-6- inside wing. Half way up this wall and attached to it there is a piece similar
to a U resting on one side whose vertical sections open outwards. At the rear of the
laminated walls -3-, almost half way up, there is a horizontal laminated projection
-10- that, at the appropriate distance, is angled upward -11- and ends with an inward
angle. A small tilted laminated section -12-emerges from the centre of the said section
-11-, and it adopts a horizontal position before bending downwards and ending with
a small radius.
2. Anchorage system to fix label holders onto shelves as described in the previous claims,
characterized in that in order to allow a tilted positioning of the laminated walls -3- there is a small
recess -13- in the inside wing of the T shape -6- that tops the piece.
3. Anchorage system to fix label holders onto shelves as described in the previous claims,
characterized in that the laminated, preferably rectangular, shelf -2- has folds -14- annexed to one or
both fronts. These folds define a housing in the shape of a kite tail(15), and the
bottom fold -14- is topped with a small horizontal section (16).
4. Anchorage system to fix label holders onto shelves as described in the previous claims,
characterized in that label holder -17- can be a variant of label holder -1-, the difference being that
the horizontal wall -10- and its rear extensions have been omitted from the rear of
the laminated walls -3-.
5. Anchorage system to fix label holders onto shelves as described in the previous claims,
characterized in that the anchorage means of the optional label holder -18- are two pins -19- that emerge
horizontally from the rear of the laminated walls and end at an outward angle.
6. Anchorage system to fix label holders onto shelves as described in the previous claims,
characterized in that the label holder can be made up of a variable-thickness body -20-, with a vertical
front and a small radius both at the top and at the bottom end, whilst its rear side
has a small recess -23- above which there are tilted housings diverging outwards.
7. Anchorage system to fix label holders onto shelves as described in the previous claims,
characterized in that a transparent laminated section -25- is fitted to the front and base -or bottom end-
of the label holder -20-, and it continues towards the back until the beginning of
the small recess -23-.
8. Anchorage system to fix label holders onto shelves as described in the previous claims,
characterized in that label holder -26- is a variant of label holder -20-. The variant has a front wall
-27- that forms an angle in relation to the rear side -28-.
9. Anchorage system to fix label holders onto shelves as described in the previous claims,
characterized in that a way to place a variable-thickness label holder in a tilted position is to attach
a laminated piece (29) to its rear side, so that the top and bottom wings of the piece
allow it to anchor the label holder (20) to the housings (15) of the shelf (2).