Abstract:
Display tag holders in one integral part of an injection molded plastic, such as polyurethane, or acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, including an essentially planar display portion, a connecting portion and a ring attachment portion, the ring attachment portion having at least one flexible resilient ring segment including a proximal end closest to the display portion and at least one distal end, the at least one flexible resilient ring segment defining a circumferential direction and a ring plane in which the at least one flexible resilient ring segment essentially extends, wherein the at least one flexible resilient ring segment is attached to the display portion by the connecting portion so that the ring plane is essentially perpendicular to the plane of the planar display portion.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates generally to holders and more specifically relates to a holder for planar or sheet material wherein the holder includes a planar holding portion for holding planar material and an integral attachment mechanism of the planar holder portion to a wire or rod, which rod may have a variable dimension. 
     2. Background Art 
     The inventive holder is particularly applicable to sign holders or display devices that are useful in retail environments in which price sheets and the like are to be prominently displayed to prospective purchasers. However, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention has broader applications, and may be utilizable in other applications in which it is convenient to hang items from a variable dimensioned mounting using a cinch, ring or contoured tab. 
     Conventional practice for retail establishments is to indicate the price of merchandise held on shelves with price tags attached to the shelf holding the items to be sold. Some examples of such price holders, other than price tags on the items themselves, are clips, slots, or rigid holders that retain the price tag or other identifying information attached to the shelf on which the items to be sold are displayed. In some instances, the rigid holder may be in the form of a planar member that has cantilevered top and bottom edges forming grooves into which price tags, for example, small rectangular sheets of paper or cardboard are inserted. Commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 7,340,856 to Kalouris describes such a holder. Kalouris is an example of an adjustable tag holder that accommodates different diameter wires or other mounting means. The teachings of U.S. Pat. No. 7,340,856 are incorporated herein, where common elements are described, as if fully set forth. 
     Price tags mounted on a display shelf are usually positioned in a plane parallel to the shelf front edge or in a plane perpendicular to the front edge to call attention to the prospective purchaser the price or other identifying indicia of the merchandise goods, usually disposed directly behind the price tag holder. Price tags need to be mounted securely to prevent accidental dislodgment by passersby or to prevent deliberate tampering by persons bent on mischief. Besides the above mentioned Kalouris patent, known price tag holders utilize mechanical locking means, for example, a pin and slot arrangement, to prevent the removal of the price tag except by manually disengaging the locking means. Some such clips are made from several parts to facilitate the removal of temporary price sheets that are inserted therein until they are changed. However, multiple part arrangements of this type add to the manufacturing and utilization costs, as they require additional assembly and other steps to produce than does an integral or single piece device. 
     Conventional one piece price tag holders, for example, tags that are attachable around a wire mesh front wire in a wire mesh shelf have a specified diameter wire or metal rod to which they are attachable. The diameter of the rods making up the wire mesh shelves on occasion has a wire of a different, often larger size. In that event, a different size of attachment is necessary to securely hold the price tag holder on the wire mesh front wire or rod so as to inhibit lateral displacement along the rod or wire. To change over to different shelving systems may require obtaining a complete new set of price tag holders. Moreover, if two or several different types of shelving are utilized in a specified retail establishment, then as many types of price tag holders are necessary to use on the different wire mesh holders, thereby needlessly complicating the inventory of the retail establishment, adding to the carrying costs and taking up space that would otherwise be used for storage of retail merchandise. 
     The attachment mechanisms provided for attaching the price tag holders to a shelf are generally sturdy ones to avoid tampering or other accidental dislodgement, and usually include retaining members that are difficult to unlatch, and some even require special tools to unhook or otherwise unfasten the price tag holder from the mounting disposed on the shelf. For example, aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 7,340,856 includes a hard plastic base that has a slot for insertion of a tab end that securely retains the tab end in the slot until a strong positive force is brought to the tab end to remove the tab end from the slot. 
     The desire that the retention mechanism be sturdy and hard to unfasten accidentally, while also inhibiting sideways displacement along the wire or rod on which it is mounted has tended toward a trend of more robust retention mechanisms, which contributes significantly to the cost of the tag holders. An inexpensive to produce and inexpensive to use, that is, reusable, means of retaining a price tag holder on the mounting means of a shelf is needed which also provides the capability of reutilizing a price tag holder by virtue of the easy disengagement of the holding or retention mechanism and reattachment at a different desired location. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a solution to these problems and describes and claims a display tag holder suitable for mounting onto an external elongated support member, the display tag holder comprising an essentially planar display portion, a connecting portion and a ring attachment portion that is connected to the display portion by the connecting portion, the ring attachment portion having at least one flexible resilient ring segment including a proximal end closest to the display portion and at least one distal end, the at least one flexible resilient ring segment defining a circumferential direction and a ring plane in which the at least one flexible resilient ring segment essentially extends, wherein the at least one flexible resilient ring segment is attached to the display portion by the connecting portion so that the ring plane is essentially perpendicular to the plane of the planar display portion. Preferably, the inventive merchandise display tag holder is one integral part and comprises an injection molded plastic, such as polyurethane, or acrylonitrile butadiene styrene 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
       The present invention will now be discussed in further detail below with reference to the accompanying figures in which: 
         FIG. 1  is perspective view of a tag holder according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is front elevational view of a price tag holder shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is side elevational view of a price tag holder shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is perspective view of a price tag holder according to another embodiment of the present invention shown being used in a typical retail environment. 
         FIG. 5  is perspective view of another embodiment of the present inventive price tag holder. 
         FIG. 6  is front elevational view of a price tag holder shown in  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional side view of the price holder according to the present invention, taken approximately along the line  7 - 7  of  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 8  is perspective view of a price tag holder according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  is perspective view of a price tag holder according to yet another embodiment of the present invention shown being used in a typical retail environment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1-3 , a first embodiment of the present invention price tag holder  10  is shown. A price tag portion  11 , comprising a front surface  12  for displaying price information, and an opposed back surface  14  of the price tag display portion  11 , is shown. Price tags made of a planar material, for example paper with an adhesive on one side may be affixed to the price tag holder front or back surfaces  12 ,  14 , so that the price tags (not shown) are visible to the purchaser. Of course, if the back surface  14  is used to mount the price tag, the price tag display portion  11  should be clear so that the information on the price tag would be visible to the front face of the holder  10  and thus visible to the shopping public. The price tag display portion  11  may take any shape, but is preferably in the shape of a rectangle, as shown. The price tag portion  11 , in and of itself, including the surfaces  12 ,  14 , is in most instances conventional. A top edge  16  is disposed along the top of price tag portion  11 , and is thicker than the thickness of the price tag portion  11 . This configuration acts to provide rigidity to the price tag holder  11  so that it can retain its planar shape without twisting or bending. 
     At a central location  18  along the transverse extent of the edge  16 , an integral attachment portion generally shown at  20  attaches the tag display portion  11  to a ring attachment portion  30 , which in turn is attachable as will be described in detail below, to a wire mesh  80  (shown in phantom in  FIG. 1 ) of a merchandising display. The wire mesh  80  is under normal circumstances the first or front wire of an arrangement of wires that are usually weldable to each other in a configuration forming wire shelves on which retail merchandise is displayed. The price tag display portion  11  thus normally will hang from the first wire  80 , as shown in  FIG. 1 , in front of and above the merchandise on the shelf immediately below the wire  80 . The configuration of the inventive ring attachment portion  30  provides a tight interference fit around the wire  80  to retain the holder  10  in position so it does not swing about the wire nor move laterally along the wire  80 , as will be described below in more detail. 
     The ring attachment portion  30  is attached to the price tag portion  11  by the integral connecting portion  20 , which is preferably triangularly shaped, as shown. It is integral with and attached to top edge  16  of the price tag portion  11 , and also attached to a bottommost point of the periphery or circumference of the ring attachment portion  30 . Most preferably, and so as to provide a manufacturing advantage, the ring attachment portion  30 , the integral connecting portion  20  and the price tag portion  11  are all integral and formed in the course of a single molding procedure in a die mold (not shown). That is, the mold forming process that can be utilized to manufacture the display tag holder  10  is a single mold process, that once completed, produces that necessary product according to the present invention that can be shipped to the purchaser of the inventive holders for immediate mounting in a wire rack display. The thickness dimension of the connecting portion  20  is about the same thickness or slightly lesser than the thickness of the top edge  16 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . 
     Integral ring attachment portion  30  and the other portions of the price display tag holder  10 , such as the price tag portion  11  and the connecting portion  20 , are formed from a relatively soft plastic, for example, polypropylene. This type of material permits temporary distortion of ring portion  30  while the tag holder is being mounted onto a wire mesh or rod  80 . However, preferably it has sufficient resiliency to spring back and engage around the wire rod  80  and firmly attach thereto. The material preferably has enough frictional holding power to retain the display tag holder  10  in place at the portion of the rod  80  on which it has been mounted. 
     While the integral ring attachment potion  30  has been described as having a “circumference,” it should be noted that strictly speaking the shape is not circumferential, but may be considered such as a general proposition. In fact, the ring portion as shown in  FIG. 3  comprises two semicircular segments, an inner segment  32  and an outer segment  34 . The outer segment  34  may have a slightly larger curvature so that the inner circumference of the outer segment  34  follows the contour of the outer circumference of the inner segment  32  as shown in  FIG. 3 . Each of the two segments  32 ,  34  may have an arc extending up to or about 2700, so that the inner circumference of the outer segment  34  overlaps to some degree over the outer circumference of segment  32 . The radius of the inner segment  32  is dimensioned to provide a tight interference fit over a wire or rod  80  that is the smallest diameter contemplated for use with the device. For rods or wires  80  having larger diameters, the resiliency of the material comprising the ring attachment portion  30  allows the two ring segments  32 ,  34  to expand, and thereby to accommodate the larger size diameter of the rod  80 , while maintaining the interference fit by its resilient power. It should be recognized that the of the ring attachment portion  30 , that is the two segments  32 ,  34  are both preferably thin, so as to be flexible enough to loop around a rod or wire, such as wire or rod  80 , but thick enough to provide a robust connection thereto. 
     One way to provide the desired configuration is to include the locus of the inner ring segment  32  at a position that is somewhat closer to the price tag portion  11  and also to have a decreasing radius of curvature in the inner segment  32  so that the two ring segments  32 ,  34  in effect form a spiraling semicircular attachment portion. 
     Referring now to an alternative embodiment of the invention, shown in  FIG. 4  is a display tag holder  11  O having three portions, a price tag display portion  110 , a connecting portion  20  and a ring attachment portion  30 . Since the two portions  20 ,  30  are in most respects identical to those of the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , identical identification numbers are used. For those portions of the embodiment of  FIG. 4 , and also of the second alternative embodiment shown in  FIGS. 5-7 , that are different from the previously described embodiments, the identification numerals are accorded a similar number but having a prefix in a different hundred sequence. 
     Referring again to the display tag holder  110  shown in  FIG. 4 , only the different price tag display portion  111  will be discussed, the connecting portion  20  and ring attachment portion  30  being essentially identical to those of the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1-3 . The price tag display portion  111  comprises a front surface  112  for displaying price information, and an opposed back surface  114  of the price tag portion  111 . However, rather than a top edge  16 , as in display tag holder  10 , the extending top and bottom of the price tag portion  111  have cantilevered, or turned over edges, namely a top edge  116 , and a bottom edge  118 , each defining opposed grooves  117 ,  119  respectively. The opposed grooves  117 ,  119  provide a slot for inserting price tag information, in the form of a paper or cardboard tag through the slots of grooves  117 ,  119  to hold the price tag at its edges within the enclosed space provided the back wall  114  and the two cantilevered top and bottom edges  116 ,  118 . In this respect, edges  116  and  118  are similar to those of the aforementioned commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 7,340,856, and reference is made thereto for a more detailed discussion of the structure and function of the edges  116 ,  118  and grooves  117 ,  119 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 5-7 , another embodiment of the inventive display tag holder  210  is shown, in which the price tag display portion is the same as that of the price tag display portion  111  of the second embodiment  110  shown in  FIG. 4 , but the connecting portion  220  and the ring attachment portion  230  are different. The differences are best shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , which show the connecting portion  220  as being centrally disposed along the top edge  116 , but having a generally trapezoidal profile when viewed in plan view of  FIG. 6 . At a vertical distance approximately one third between the connection point to the edge  116  and the apex or top  222  of the connection portion  220 , there is located a slot or eye  224  for receiving a fastening hook  232  disposed at the distal end  234  of the ring attachment portion  230 . The width of the opening forming the eye  224  is approximately the same or slightly smaller than the diameter of the hook, if the hook is cylindrical. 
     The eye includes an open end  225  and a closed end  227 , the width of the eye at each end shown being identical, but the closed end may taper to a slightly smaller width to provide a better interference fit to the hook  232  as will be apparent. One or more grooves  226 , defining by a stepped profile in the slot  224 , best seen in  FIG. 7 , may be disposed to provide a better interference fit with the end of the hook  232 . As can be seen from the cross-sectional profile in  FIG. 7 , the ledge formed by the grooves  226  provide a seat for the end portion  238  of the hook  232  within the slot  224 . A second protruding disc  240  also provides a resistance to movement of the hook  232  in the slot  224  by frictional contact between the outer periphery of disc  240  and the wall of the connecting portion  220 . 
     The top or apex  222  of the connection portion  220  is adjacent the other or proximate end  234  of the ring attachment portion  230 , which is attached to or preferably integral with the top  222 . The ring attachment portion  230  extends from the connection point to the distal end and terminates in the hook  232 . It should be recognized that the single body segment  236  of the ring attachment portion  230  is preferably thin, so as to render it flexible enough to loop around a rod or wire (not shown) such as wire or rod  80 ,  88 , shown in  FIGS. 1 and 4 , but thick enough to provide a robust connection. Thus, the length of the body segment  236  is similar to the circumference of the expected diameter of the wire or rod to which the ring connection portion  230  will attach. 
     The ring connection portion  230  has a hook member  232  at its distal end that connects to the eye  224  by sliding the hook member  232  laterally from the open end  225  to the closed end  227 . If the two walls defining the eye  224  are convergent from the open end  225  to the closed end  227 , the constriction provided by the converging walls will wedge the hook member  232  into a greater interference fit so that it becomes difficult to withdraw the hook  232  from the closed end  227 . Alternatively, a convergent wall separation can terminate at the closed end in an eyelet (not shown) that receives the hook  232  to retain it therewithin. In operation, the body segment  236  is first looped around the rod and then the hook  232  is inserted into the open end  225  and slid toward closed end  227 , thereby connection the price display tag  210  to the rod. To remove the tag  210 , the opposite of this operation is performed, i.e., the hook  232  is withdrawn from the closed end  227  to clear the eye  224  at the open end  225 , and then the body segment  236  is unloosed from the rod. 
     The invention may be practiced by other modes besides the preferred ones shown in the above described embodiments, and alterations, modifications, substitutions, adaptations and changes may be come apparent to a person having ordinary skill in the art. For example, the shape of the ring segments  32 ,  34  may not need to be cylindrical, but may be square or oval. Other elements may also be changed to achieve additional necessary goals. For example, to further inhibit mischief or removal of the display tag holder from a store shelf, a locking mechanism may be adapted to keep the two segments attached to each other. For example, and as shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , alternative configurations for an connecting portions  320 ,  420 , each different in their own way, are part of tag holders  310 ,  410 , respectively, to include portions that remain identical to both tag holder  110  of  FIG. 4  and to tag holder  210  of  FIGS. 5 and 6 . Identical parts are identified by identical numerals as the embodiment  1   10 , shown in  FIG. 4 , and in the prior alternative embodiment  210 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 8 , another embodiment  310  of the inventive display tag holder is shown, in which the price tag display portion is the same as that of the price tag display portion  111  of the second embodiment  110  shown in  FIG. 4 . Since the only significant difference with tag holder  110  lies in the connecting portion  320 , only that portion will be described below. 
     As shown in  FIG. 8 , the connecting portion  320  is also centrally disposed along the top edge  116 , and has a longitudinally extending bottom edge  322  that provides for connection to the edge  116  along a central portion extending in a longitudinal direction. Although the connection portion  310  is shown as a rectangular shape, any shape, such as a truncated trapezoid as in  FIG. 4 , or other shape is possible. 
     The differences shown in the perspective view of  FIG. 8  include a closed eye, in the general shape of a keyhole  324  for receiving the hook  332 . The keyhole  324  includes a large opening  325  that narrows by converging to a smaller holding slot  327 , the width of slot  327  being about the same as a projection portion  334  that ends in an end portion  338  of the hook  332 . The slot  327  may taper to a slightly smaller width than the diameter of the projection  334  so as to provide a better interference fit to the hook  332 , as will be apparent. A flanged portion  340  is larger than the diameter of the large opening  325  so as to permit insertion of the end  338  into the large opening  325  until the flanged portion  340  meets a wall  323  of the connecting portion  320 , after which the projection  334  of the hook  332  is brought down to engage the walls of the slot  327 . In this configuration, the hook end  338  maintains the loop formed by the flexible single body segment  336  of the connecting portion  320 , and retains the tag holder on the wire or rod (not shown). The removal of the tag holder form its attachment requires the opposite procedure, in which the hook  332  is withdrawn by pulling it upwardly so the end  338  is adjacent the large opening  325  allowing it to be withdrawn from the keyhole  324 , and unwinding of the flexible single body segment  336  permits the tag holder  320  to be removed from the wire or rack. 
     As shown in  FIG. 9 , connecting portion  420  is also centrally disposed along the top edge  116 , but rather than being connected along a longitudinally extending direction, the bottom edge  422  extends in a transverse direction and provides for connection to the edge  116  along a central portion extending in a transverse direction. Again, although the connection portion  410  is shown as a rectangular shape, any shape, such as a truncated trapezoid as in  FIG. 4 , or any other shape is possible. 
     The differences between the embodiment  310  as shown in  FIG. 8  and the one shown in the perspective view of  FIG. 9  require that the connection of the tag holder  410  be made to a wire or rod  488  (shown in phantom) that extends from a front toward a rear of the rack on which the tag holder  410  is intended for attachment. The keyhole  424  also includes a large opening  425  that narrows by converging to a smaller holding slot  427 , but because of the transverse orientation of the base of connection portion  420 , the flexible single body segment  436  is looped in a plane that is parallel to the plane of the surface  114  of the tag holder  114 . Otherwise the remaining elements except for possibly the dimensions, are similar or identical to the connecting portion  320  of the tag holder embodiment  320  shown in  FIG. 8 , and will not be further discussed herein. 
     Another difference between the tag holder  310  of  FIG. 8  and the tag holder  410  of  FIG. 9  is in the way the flexible single body segments  336  and  436  are looped around the wire or rod to which they are attached. For example, when the tag holder, is required to be attached to a rod that extends in the direction of the longitudinal extent of the rack or shelf tag holder  310  can be used. Conversely, when the tag holder is desirable for an attachment to a wire or rod that extends transverse to the longitudinal direction of the shelf or rack, then tag holder  410  can be used. As can be seen, the respective flexible single body segment  336  is looped around the wire or rod (not shown) in a plane transverse to the face  112  and, conversely, the flexible single body segment  436  is looped around the wire or rod  488  (shown in phantom) in a plane parallel to the face  112  of the price tag portion  111 , so that in all instances, the surface  112  always faces the prospective purchaser, who is standing in front of the shelf or rack. 
     The invention herein has been described and illustrated with reference to the embodiments shown  FIGS. 1-9 , but it should be understood that the features and operation of the invention as described is susceptible to modification or alteration without departing significantly from the spirit of the invention. For example, the dimensions, size and shape of the various elements may be altered to fit specific applications or to accommodate different size and diameter rods. Other modifications will be apparent to those of ordinary skill, and accordingly, the specific embodiments illustrated and described herein are for illustrative purposes only and the invention is not limited except by the following claims and equivalents thereof.