A sign for affixing to a post of a container

Abstract

 A sign is provided for affixing to a post having a pair of parallel, spaced members interconnected by interconnecting elements. The sign has a message-carrying member with a surface suitable for carrying a message, and a pair of stabilising members extends from the message-carrying member and is spaced apart so as to define a space between the stabilising members for accommodating the pair of walls of the post between the stabilising members. The sign has an intermediate member between the pair of stabilising members and is arranged to rest on an interconnecting element of the post when the post is accommodated between the stabilising members.

Description

Field of the invention

[0001] This invention relates to signs for affixing to a post of eg a rack or a container for transporting items or displaying items such as items for sale in a shop.

Background of the invention

[0002] Items may be transported in eg a suitable rack or a container from an origin to a destination such as a shop where the items are offered for sale. In shops and stores items that offered for sale may be placed in a rack or a container from where customers can pick items and put them in eg a shopping cart. In either case it may often be convenient or necessary to have a price tag or a sign carrying other information related to the items removably attached to the rack or container such s to an upright post thereof. During transport of such containers and racks it will be useful, or even necessary, to have an identification of the destination, the origin and/or the carrier etc attached to the rack or container. It is an object of the invention to provide such a sign.

[0003] WO 95/22136 A1 discloses a sign for affixing to a post with two parallel side members interconnected by a front member. The sign has a surface for displaying a text message. Two stabilising members extend and form a space for receiving the post so that the stabilising members of the sign abut the side members of the post.

Summary of the invention

[0004] According to the invention there is provided a sign for affixing to a post such as a corner post of a container, a trolley or other Returnable Transport Item (RTI), where the post has a pair of parallel, spaced members interconnected by interconnecting elements, the sign having a message-carrying member with a surface suitable for carrying a message, a pair of stabilising members extending from the message-carrying member and spaced apart so as to define a space between the stabilising members for accommodating the pair of walls of the post between the stabilising members, and an intermediate member between the pair of stabilising members and arranged to rest on an interconnecting element of the post when the post is accommodated between the stabilising members. Such a sign is easy and simple to manufacture, eg from a metal plate where the stabilising members and the intermediate member are punched and bent to a proper shape, or as an injection moulded unit, or as a combination thereof.

Brief description of the drawings

[0005] 

Figure 1 shows a sign according to the invention and a post before being assembled;

Figure 2 shows the sign and the post in figure 1 assembled; and

Figure 3 is a cross section through a sign according to the invention attached to a post.

Detailed description of the invention

[0006] In the figures is shown a post 10 and a sign 20. The post 10 is rail-like and has a pair of parallel, spaced, elongate side members 11 and 12 that are interconnected by interconnecting elements 13 with openings 14 between neighbouring interconnecting elements 13. The side members 11 and 12 and the interconnecting members 13 are bent to have a generally U-shaped cross-section. The sign 20 has a message-carrying member 21 with a surface suitable for carrying a message, eg in a manner known per se. A first pair of stabilising members 22, 23 and a second pair of stabilising members 24, 25 both extend from the message-carrying member 21, and the stabilising members of each pair are spaced apart so as to define a space therebetween for accommodating the post, and in particular its pair of walls, between the stabilising members. Further, the sign has an intermediate member 26 between the pairs of stabilising members and arranged to rest on an interconnecting element 13 of the post 10 when the post is accommodated between the stabilising members.

[0007] For assembling the sign 20 and the post 10 the two stabilising members 23 and 25 and the two stabilising members 22 and 24 are aligned with respective outer sides of the elongate side members 11 and 12 of the post 10, and the intermediate member 26 is inserted in an opening 14 between interconnecting elements 13. A notch 27 is provided in the intermediate member 26 for receiving an interconnecting element 13 of the post 10 so that the intermediate member 26 rests with the bottom of the notch 27 on the interconnecting elements 13. The intermediate member thus has portions on both sides of the intermediate member of the post, whereby the sign is prevented from unintended getting loose and eventually falling off the post.

[0008] The sign is illustrated in an embodiment where wherein the stabilising members 22, 23 and 24, 25 extend from the message-carrying member in a direction transverse to the message-carrying member. In another embodiment the stabilising members 22, 23 and 24, 25 extend from the message-carrying member in the direction of the message-carrying member, whereby the message-carrying member 21 extends in a direction perpendicular to the direction shown, i.e. parallel to the stabilising members 22, 23 and 24, 25. The message-carrying surface can have any desired size, small or large, and depending on its size the number of stabilising members and their distribution can be varied.

Claims

1. A sign (20) for affixing to a post (10) having a pair of parallel, spaced wall members (11, 12) interconnected by interconnecting elements (13), the sign having

- a member (21) with a surface suitable for carrying a message,

- a pair of stabilising members (22, 23, 24, 25) extending from the message-carrying member (11, 12) and spaced apart so as to define a space between the stabilising members for accommodating the pair of wall members of the post between the stabilising members, and

- an intermediate member (26) between the pair of stabilising members and arranged to rest on an interconnecting element (13) of the post when the post is accommodated between the stabilising members.

2. A sign according to claim 1 wherein the stabilising members (22, 23, 24, 25) extend from the message-carrying member (21) in a direction transverse to the message-carrying member.

3. A sign according to claim 1-2 wherein the stabilising members (22, 23, 24, 25) extend from the message-carrying member (21) in the direction of the message-carrying member.

4. A sign according to claim 1-3 wherein the intermediate member (26) has a notch (27) for receiving a portion of the interconnecting element (13) with portions of the intermediate member (26) on both sides of the interconnecting element (13).

Drawing