Abstract:
A transparent divider to be used at checkout conveyors for separating one customers order from the next customers order. The divider is an elongate bar which has an open bottom for ease of stacking or sliding along a checkout rail. A slot is formed in the side walls of the divider into which a sheet of printed advertisement can be folded and slid. The advertisement is visible, preferably on all side walls of the divider. The divider is available in a number of different shapes and can be made as a single piece or as an inner divider with a transparent cover.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]    This application is a regular application of U.S. Provisional Pat. application Ser. No. 60/367,762 filed on Mar. 28, 2002, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The present invention relates to dividers used at conventional checkout conveyors to separate customer orders and more particularly to dividers that can also be used to display advertising.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    Commonly, in retail, dividers are provided at customer checkouts to separate individual customer&#39;s purchases. Typically, the dividers are placed on a conveyor belt, between the customer&#39;s purchases to indicate to the cashier where one order ends and the next begins.  
           [0004]    For convenience, the dividers are often stored in a channel or over an edge of the conveyor adjacent the cashier so that when the cashier begins to ring in the next order the divider can be placed in the channel or over the edge and slid downwards towards the next customers in line.  
           [0005]    Often, the dividers are imprinted with indicia which identifies the retail outlet or some other permanent type of advertising is imprinted directly onto the divider. With use, the advertising begins to fade or become damaged. When new advertising is required one must purchase new dividers.  
           [0006]    Another type of divider is taught in U.S. Pat. No. 5,933,994 to Misaresh. The divider is a transparent fixture, having a plurality of embodiments of different cross-sections including square and triangular, and having two open ends and sides defining a hollow interior. Holders are formed having opposing pairs of slots in the hollow interior adjacent the top and bottom of each side to retain a plurality of strips of advertising therein. Individual planar strips having indicia printed thereon are slid into the paired top and bottom slots with the indicia visible through the transparent sides of the fixture. The planar strips are individually inserted and retained therein against the sides by flexible cylinders or end caps placed in the open ends. This is time consuming detailed work which is high in labor cost.  
           [0007]    Clearly there is a need for a divider carrying advertising indicia wherein the indicia can be rapidly and simply changed, that has a simple construction to reduce production costs and that is capable of displaying indicia on a plurality of sides. Ideally, the indicia needs to be printed on a single sheet of material only, requiring a single insertion into the divider to minimize printing costs as well as labor costs.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0008]    The divider of the present invention comprises a transparent divider having two or more side walls defining a slot therebetween, an open bottom and open ends defining a hollow interior. A single sheet of material is printed with advertising indicia and is then folded at one or more predetermined positions for insertion into an open end of the slot in the divider. The folded sheet is either slid into the open end with the indicia oriented to be visible through the transparent side walls and is prevented from sliding out of the slot by friction or is placed over a first divider piece and then covered by a second transparent divider cover.  
           [0009]    Further, the divider is sized so as to fit within a channel conveniently located at conventional checkout counters for the purpose, or alternatively over the edge of the checkout conveyer rails, and to provide optimum visible surface areas with the advertisement in an upright orientation. Conveniently, the dividers can be stacked as a result of the open side, which allows them to be easily collected and removed from use for changing the advertisement, either in the store or at a remote location.  
           [0010]    In a broad aspect of the invention the transparent divider comprises an elongate member having at least two adjoining side walls, wherein each side wall comprises inner and outer walls for forming an elongate slot therebetween at least one outer wall of which is transparent, the slot being open at at least a first end for accepting an advertising sheet having indicia printed thereon, and wherein the adjoining side walls define an open bottom.  
           [0011]    In a preferred embodiment of the invention the divider comprises a one-piece triangular divider wherein the inner wall extends, in a substantially parallel relationship to the outer wall, a least a portion of a height of the outer wall for forming the slot. The advertisement is preferably printed on a single sheet which is folded along the centre and then slid into the slot.  
           [0012]    More preferably, the slot is narrowed at a top end by angling the inner wall slightly towards the outer wall for more firmly retaining the advertisement in the slot.  
           [0013]    In a variation of the preferred embodiment, the inner portion of the divider is formed into a rectangular shape to permit fitting over and sliding upon the checkout conveyor rails. The inner wall extends a portion of the height of two opposing parallel outer walls.  
           [0014]    In another embodiment of the invention, the divider is manufactured having a two-piece construction, A first divider piece, preferably either triangular, rectangular or “A”-shaped, is formed having the outer wall extending upwards a portion of the height of the inner wall for creating a slot, preferably shaped as a catch. A second transparent cover piece is formed having an identical shape to the divider and is sized to cover the first divider piece. The advertisement is folded and placed over the divider piece. The cover piece is then positioned over the advertisement and is engaged along longitudinal edges in the catch formed in the divider portion.  
           [0015]    Preferably, the opposing longitudinal edges of the cover are formed having outwardly extending protrusions for engaging the opposing catches on the divider portion.  
           [0016]    A yet another embodiment of the invention is provided wherein the divider is formed having unitary inner and outer walls. The walls are spaced from one another sufficient to allow a folded, single sheet of advertisement to be slid therebetween. Preferably, the third embodiment is triangular, rectangular or “A”-shaped.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0017]    [0017]FIG. 1 a  is an end view of a first embodiment of the invention;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 1 b  is a side perspective view of the invention according to FIG. 1 a  illustrating insertion of a one-piece folded advertisement therein;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 2 a  is an end view of a variation of the first embodiment of the invention adapted to slide on conventional rectangular checkout rails;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 2 b  is a perspective view of the variation according to FIG. 2 a ;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 3 a  is an end view of a second embodiment of the invention having a two piece triangular construction;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 3 b  is a perspective view of the second embodiment according to FIG. 3 a ;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 4 a  is an end view of a variation of the second embodiment of the present invention having a two-piece rectangular construction;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 4 b  is a perspective view according to FIG. 4 a ;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 5 a  is an end view of a variation of the second embodiment of the invention having a one piece construction and a horizontal wall forming a “A”-shape;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 5 b  is a perspective view according to FIG. 5 a ;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 6 a  is an end view of a third embodiment of the present invention having a once piece rectangular construction;  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 6 b  is a perspective view according to FIG. 6 a ;  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 7 a  is an end view of a variation of the third embodiment of the invention having a one piece triangular construction and a horizontal wall;  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 7 b  is a perspective view according to FIG. 7 a ; and  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 8 is an end view of an alternate variation of the third embodiment of the invention having a one piece right-angled triangular construction. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0032]    As shown in FIGS. 1 a - 8 , the divider  10  of the present invention comprises a transparent elongate member or divider  10  having two or more adjoining side walls  11   a ,  11   b  . . . , an open bottom  12  and open ends  13 , 14  defining a hollow interior  15 . The side walls  11   a ,  11   b  . . . are formed having an inner wall  18  and an outer wall  19  defining a slot  20  therebetween. Sheet material  16 , preferably a single sheet, is printed with advertising indicia and is then folded at one or more predetermined positions  17   a ,  17   b  . . . for insertion into the slot  20  of the divider  10 . At least the outer walls  19  of the divider  10  are transparent for viewing the advertisement. The folded sheet  16  is slid into the slot  20  with the indicia oriented to be visible through the transparent outer walls and is prevented from sliding out of the divider  10  by friction. Further, the divider  10  and the open bottom  12  are sized so as to fit within a channel conveniently located at conventional checkout counters (not shown) for the purpose, or alternatively over the edge of the checkout conveyer rails  21  (FIG. 2 a ), and to provide optimum visible surface areas with the advertisement in an upright orientation. Conveniently, the dividers  10  can be stacked as a result of the open bottom  12 , which allows them to be easily collected and removed from use for changing the advertisement, either in the store or at a remote location.  
         [0033]    In one embodiment of the invention as shown in FIGS. 1 a - b  and  2   a - b , the slots  20  are formed towards the hollow interior  15  of the divider  10  and are formed by a base  22  and the inner wall  18  which may extend to varying heights in parallel and spaced relationship to the outer wall  19  forming slots  20  of varying depths.  
         [0034]    Preferably, the base  22  and inner wall  18  are formed as a unitary structure and are contiguous with the outer walls  19 .  
         [0035]    More preferably, the inner wall  18  is angled slightly towards the adjacent outer wall  19  creating a narrowing of the slot  20  therebetween at a top  23  of the slot  20  to more firmly retain the advertisement sheet  16  therein.  
         [0036]    [0036]FIGS. 1 a -b and  2   a - b  illustrate the first embodiment having two side walls  11   a ,  11   b  and an open bottom  12  arranged in a triangular shape. In this variation, the advertisement  16  is sized to fit the two side walls  11   a ,  11   b , is folded longitudinally along a center  17   a  and printed accordingly. The advertisement  16  is slid into an open end of the slot  20  of the divider  10  where it is engaged by friction.  
         [0037]    In a variation of the described embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 2 a - b , the inner wall  18  is shaped to permit the divider  10  to be better positioned over a conveyer rail  21  when not in use. The inner wall  18  is thickened inward towards the hollow interior  15 , adjacent the base  22 , so as to cause inner surfaces  24  of the opposing inner walls  18  to be parallel to each other and complementary with a rectangular conveyor rail  21 . The inner surface  24  extends upwards into the hollow interior  15  in spaced parallel relationship, the thickness of the inner wall  18  diminishing as the height increases. At a point  25  at which the thickness of the inner wall  18  is substantially equal to that of the outer wall  19 , the inner wall  18  is angled to a parallel but spaced relationship to the outer wall  19 . The point  25  at which the inner wall  18  deflects into parallel relationship with the outer wall  19  creates a shoulder  26  at which the conveyor rail  21  abuts and which the divider  10  is slideable thereon.  
         [0038]    Having reference to FIGS. 3 a - b  to  5   a - b , another embodiment of the divider  10 , having a two-piece construction for holding a single advertisement sheet  16 , folded longitudinally in order to be displayed on two or more side walls  11   a ,  11   b , is shown. An inner divider piece  30  comprises the inner wall  18  and a partial outer wall  19  and a cover  31  completes the remainder of the outer wall  19 . Both the divider piece  30  and the cover  31  are formed as described for the previous embodiment having two or more side walls  11   a ,  11   b  . . . , an open bottom  12  and open ends  13 ,  14 . The partial outer wall  19  of the divider piece extends only a portion of a height of the inner wall  18 , creating a longitudinal catch  32  thereon. The cover  31  is formed having an identical shape to the inner divider piece  30  and is sized so as to fit over the divider piece  30  and engage the longitudinal catch  32  on opposing side walls  11   a ,  11   b  of the divider piece  30 . Once assembled the inner divider piece  30  and the cover  31  are spaced sufficient to define the slot  20  therebetween. At least the cover  31  of the divider  10  is transparent.  
         [0039]    Preferably, first and second longitudinal edges  33 ,  34  of the cover  31  are formed having an outward protrusion  35  therealong for snap-fitting into the catch  32 . Thus, the cover  31  is retained over the first divider piece  30 . The advertisement  16  is folded and placed over the inner divider piece  30 , after which the cover  31  is snapped into place. The cover  31  may be readily removed by forcing the protrusion  35  out of the catch  32  and the advertisement  16  changed at will.  
         [0040]    [0040]FIGS. 3 a - b  illustrates a variation of the second embodiment wherein the inner divider piece  30  and cover  31  are triangular in shape. In this variation, the advertisement  16  is folded longitudinally at the centre  17   a  and is printed accordingly.  
         [0041]    [0041]FIGS. 4 a - b  illustrates a variation of the two-piece embodiment wherein the inner divider piece  30  and cover  31  are rectangular in shape. In this variation, the advertisement  16  is folded longitudinally at two spaced places  17   b ,  17   c  on the sheet  16  and is printed accordingly.  
         [0042]    [0042]FIGS. 5 a - b  illustrates another variation of the two-piece embodiment wherein the inner divider piece  30  is “A” shaped and the cover  31  is arch shaped. An interconnecting horizontal wall  40  is formed, parallel to the open bottom  12  and spanning the distance between the inner walls  18  substantially the length of the divider  10 , for creating a rectangular hollow opening  41  adjacent the open bottom  12  of the divider  10 . The rectangular hollow  41  allows the divider  10  to be positioned over the side rail  21  of a conveyor, the horizontal wall  40  providing a flat surface upon which the divider  10  can rest and be slid therealong.  
         [0043]    Yet another embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGS. 6 a - b  and  7   a - b . In this embodiment, the divider  10  is formed wherein the inner and outer walls  18 ,  19  are unitary. The walls  18 ,  19  are spaced from one another sufficient to create the slot  20  therebetween and allow the folded single sheet  16  of advertisement to be slid into the slot  20  as described in the previous embodiments.  
         [0044]    [0044]FIGS. 6 a - b  illustrates a variation of this embodiment wherein the divider  10  is rectangular in shape, having three adjoining side walls  11   a ,  11   b ,  11   c . Other shapes such as triangular (not shown) are contemplated.  
         [0045]    Preferably, the base  22  extends outwards from the outer wall  19  to provide additional stability to the divider  10  when positioned on a flat surface.  
         [0046]    [0046]FIGS. 7 a - b  and  8  illustrate another variation of this embodiment wherein the divider  10  is triangular in shape. In FIGS. 7 a - b , the inner walls  18  further comprise a horizontal wall portion  40  parallel to the open bottom  12  and spanning the distance between the inner walls  18  substantially the length of the divider  10 , for creating a rectangular hollow opening  41  adjacent the open bottom  12  of the divider  10 .  
         [0047]    [0047]FIG. 8 illustrates a right-angle triangular shape similar to the variation shown in FIG. 6 a - b.