Abstract:
A label holder including a transparent cover member overlying a main body panel to define therebetween a lockable label-receiving pocket. The cover member is normally biased to a closed position by a hinge interconnecting the lower edges of the cover member and the main body panel, and being movable about the hinge to an open position to spread a gap at the top of the pocket for insertion and removal of labels from the pocket. A dust cover is provided to span and seal the gap when the cover member is in its closed position without interfering with the locking feature.

Description:
This is a complete application claiming benefit of provisional application Ser. No. 60/333,126 filed Nov. 27, 2001. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to plastic price channels of the kind used, for example, with merchandise display shelves in retail outlets such as supermarkets, drug stores, or the like, to receive labels providing information relating to merchandise being displayed on the shelves. More specifically, this invention is directed to a label holder with a transparent window or cover member of the type shown in commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 5,515,632 issued May 14, 1996, the subject matter of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference (the &#39;632 patent). 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     In the &#39;632 patent, the transparent cover member of a plastic label holder is hingedly and resiliently secured to the bottom of a main body panel to form a pocket between them for reception of a paper label or the like. The cover member has a height such that its top edge is releasably engaged or “locked” behind a downwardly extending lip on the top of the main body panel. A forwardly extending channel-shaped formation is provided along the top edge of the cover, comprising an inner downwardly extending limb and an outer upwardly extending limb between which the top lip of the main body panel is received when the cover is “locked” in position. The outer limb forms a gripping element by which the top edge of the cover can be disengaged from behind the top lip by finger pressure exerted from above, downwardly and outwardly on the upper edge of the outer limb. The construction of the &#39;632 patent is inexpensive to manufacture and efficient in use. However, for certain applications it may be desirable to modify the structure to more effectively minimize the entry of dust and other extraneous matter into the label pocket, while retaining the ability to releasably “lock” the cover member to the main body panel to preclude accidental loss of a label carried within the pocket. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A primary object of this invention is the incorporation of a dust-inhibiting cover on a locking label holder with a transparent window. 
     More specifically, it is an object of this invention to provide a “dust cover” over the top of the label pocket formed behind a transparent cover member in a plastic price channel of the type described above to preclude dust or the like from entering the pocket and damaging the labels and/or the label holder or obscuring the information displayed by the label through the transparent cover member. 
     Yet another object of this invention is to provide different “dust cover” embodiments, each of which retain the ability to “lock” or secure the cover member to the main body panel while extending over the gap between the upper edges of each of these members to preclude or minimize the entry of foreign matter. 
     A still further object of this invention is to provide a dust cover overlying the gap at the top of the pocket in a “lockable” label holder of the type seen in the &#39;632 patent, while retaining the ability of the label holder to open the pocket by finger pressure downwardly and outwardly on an element carried by the upper edges of the transparent cover member. 
     Other and further objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the ensuing description and claims taken in conjunction with the attached drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIGS. 1-3 are fragmentary side elevational views of portions of three embodiments of dust covers adapted for use with a lockable label holder according to the instant inventive concepts; 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of one form of label holder incorporating the dust cover embodiment of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 5 is a partial fragmentary perspective view of a portion of a label holder such as seen in FIG. 4 showing a rearwardly depending leg for engagement in the lower lip of a C-channel on a merchandise shelf; and 
     FIG. 6 is a partial fragmentary perspective view of an alternative label holder embodiment utilizing stripes of adhesive to secure the same to a supporting surface. 
    
    
     Like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawings. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     In describing a preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, specific terminology will be resorted to for the sake of clarity. However, the invention is not intended to be limited to the specific terms so selected, and it is to be understood that each specific term includes all technical equivalents which operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar purpose. 
     In the accompanying drawings, FIG. 1 shows the upper portions of a price channel  70  of the type seen in the &#39;632 patent. As in the &#39;632 patent, a downwardly directed lip  72  is provided on the main body panel  74  optionally terminating in an enlarged protrusion or knob  76 . As seen, the terminus of the lip  72  is seated in the crotch formed between the downwardly depending limb  78  and the upwardly extending limb  79  of the locking/release elements formed on the upper end of the transparent label cover member  80 . In this embodiment, however, the limb  79  extends arcuately as seen at  82  to provide a dust cover over the lip locking/release elements, with a terminal end portion  82   a  which can either rest on or frictionally engage the upper surface of the lip  72  preferably where it joins the upper edge  74   a  of the main body panel. In this manner, the gap formed at the top of the pocket  86  where a label (not shown) would be removably received is covered and sealed to preclude the entry of dust or the like. 
     Releasing engagement between the elements  72 ,  78  may still be provided by finger pressure exerted from above, downwardly and outwardly as seen in the &#39;632 patent, in this instance, on the arcuate extension  82  of the limb  79 . Thus, the ease of using the label holder of the &#39;632 patent is retained, notwithstanding the incorporation of the dust cover  82 . 
     Of course, the arcuate portion  82  may terminate short of the upper end  74   a  of the main body panel  74  and still be effective. For example, the lip  82   a  could engage the lip  72  intermediate the knob  76  and the connection at  74   a  (not shown). 
     In the embodiment of FIG. 2, a price channel such as seen in the &#39;632 patent is designated generally by the reference numeral  90  and is provided with a dust cover  92  connected by an integral hinge  94  to the upper end  96   a  of the main body panel  96  with a downwardly depending flange or finger  93  loosely resting over, or snappingly engaged with, the terminal end portion  98   a  of the limb  98  extending upwardly from the downwardly depending limb  99  formed at the top  100   a  of the transparent cover member  100 . In this embodiment, the interengagement of the elements  93 ,  98  can lock the transparent cover member  100  in position with the dust cover  92  protecting the pocket  102  from contamination. The dust cover  92  can then simply be lifted upwardly and the limb  98  pressed downwardly and outwardly to open the transparent cover member  100  for removal of a label (not shown) from, and/or insertion of a label into, the pocket  102 . 
     The embodiment of FIG. 3 is similar to the embodiment of FIG.  2  and like parts are designated by like reference characters followed by a prime (′). In this embodiment, the dust cover  92 ′ has a pair of depending fingers  93 ′ at its terminal end defining a pocket therebetween adapted to engage over, or frictionally engage with, the end  98   a ′ of the upwardly extending limb  98 ′ of the transparent cover member  100 ′. 
     Obviously, the various embodiments of engaging and disengaging elements and dust cover elements shown herein can be integrated into a single label holder. Moreover, other similar dust cover designs will be readily recognized by those skilled in this art and are to be included within the instant inventive concepts. 
     Further details of a label holder  70  with the dust cover elements of FIG. 1 are seen in FIG. 4 as illustrative. In this embodiment, the bottom edge  74   a  of the main body panel  74  and the bottom edge  80   a  of the transparent cover member  80  are integrally or co-extruded in a well known manner to form a resilient bight or hinge connection  75  enabling the cover member  80  to be tipped forwardly for access to the pocket  86  to insert or remove a paper or plastic label (not shown) when the dust cover  82  is disengaged from the main body panel  80 , while biasing the upper portions of the cover member  80  toward the main body panel  74 . 
     The elements  72  and  78  and the dust cover  82  are shown as extending along the full length of the label holder  70 , an arrangement that is most convenient for extrusion of these elements and provides the best sealing against entry of dust or other extraneous matter into the pocket  86 . However, it is to be understood that the instant inventive concepts are intended to cover constructions in which these elements are discontinuous. 
     The means for engaging any of the label holder embodiments of this invention in a C-channel on a shelf or attaching the same to other surfaces can be similar to those described in the &#39;632 patent and other well-known prior art label holders. For example, a barb (not shown) can be provided at the top edge of the main body panel  74  of the label holder  7  as seen in the &#39;632 patent, particularly if the end portion  82   a  of the arcuate dust cover  82  engages the upper surface of the lip  72  intermediate the knob  76  and the connection at  74   a  as described above. The barb may be engaged in a downwardly depending lip at the top of a C-channel on the front of a merchandise shelf (not shown), with any mechanism, such as the downwardly depending element  110  shown on the back of the main body panel  74  in FIG. 5, engaged in the upwardly opening lip at the bottom of such a C-channel in a well known manner. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 6, adhesive stripes  120  can simply be provided on the rear surface of the main body panel  74  to secure the label holder  70  to a supporting surface (not shown). 
     In summary, the mechanism for attaching the label holder to any supporting surface, whether it be a flat wall or shelf side surface, a C-channel integral with a shelf front edge, or separate therefrom, or other supporting surfaces, is not critical to the instant inventive concepts. 
     Moreover, any of the label holders of this invention can also be provided with an integral sign-holder (not shown) such as disclosed in co-pending application Ser. No. 10/101,726 filed Mar. 21, 2002, the subject matter of which is also incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. 
     The foregoing descriptions and drawings should be considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Numerous applications of the present invention will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is not desired to limit the invention to the preferred embodiments or the exact construction and operation shown and described. Rather, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.