Abstract:
The present invention provides a label base assembly with an indicator tab that includes a label base assembly having at least one mounting section linked to the major face received in the front section of the bin and opposed retaining sections formed into the rear of the label bearing face. Also provided is an indicator tab having an indicator section and prongs projecting from the indicator section where the prongs slide between the retaining sections of the label base. Also provided is an industrial bin having a front section with opposed L-brackets for use in combination with the label base and indicator tab.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present invention claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No., entitled “LABEL BASE WITH INDICATOR TAB FOR INDUSTRIAL BINS” and filed Sep. 30, 2013 and listing CHRISTOPHER D. CLARK as Inventor. All aspects of Application No. 61/883,729 are hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    A large installed base of bin systems is in use in industrial assembly. Typically, the bins are mounted to a rack system or replaced on a shelf or work surface and are accessible from the front or top. In industrial assembly facilities that include Total Quality Management or Kaizen processes it is useful to include an indicator for low part levels in part bins so that the bin may be refilled in a timely manner to reduce personnel downtime while an empty bin is filled. Various bin systems have been introduced to assist in indicating low part levels. These prior art systems have been difficult to include into with the existing stock of bin systems or have necessitated replacement of a great number of bins in an assembly facility. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0003]    In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, a label base assembly with an indicator tab is provided with a label base assembly having at least one mounting section linked to the major face received in the front section of the bin and opposed retaining sections formed into the rear of the label bearing face. Also provided is an indicator tab having an indicator section and prongs projecting from the indicator section where the prongs slide between the retaining sections of the label base. Also provided is an industrial bin having a front section with opposed L-brackets for use in combination with the label base and indicator tab. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0004]    A more complete appreciation of the invention and the many embodiments thereof will be readily obtained as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0005]      FIG. 1A  illustrates an isometric view of the label base with indicator tab of the present invention; 
           [0006]      FIG. 1B  illustrates an isometric view similar to  FIG. 1A , but with the indicator tab retracted; 
           [0007]      FIG. 2A  illustrates a top plan view of the label base of the present invention; 
           [0008]      FIG. 2B  illustrates a side plan view of the label base of the present invention; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2C  illustrates a rear plan view of the label base of the present invention in a first configuration; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2D  illustrates a bottom plan view of the label base of the present invention in a second configuration; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3A  illustrates an isometric view of an indicator tab suitable for use with the label base of the present invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 3B  illustrates a side plan view of an indicator tab suitable for use with the label base of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0013]    The present invention will now be described with occasional reference to the specific embodiments of the invention. This invention may, however, be embodied in different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth therein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. 
         [0014]    Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. The terminology used in the description of the invention herein is for describing particular embodiments only and it not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used in the description of the invention and the appended claims, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the contest clearly indicates otherwise. 
         [0015]    Unless otherwise indicated, all numbers expressing quantities of ingredients, properties such as molecular weight, reaction conditions, and so forth as used in the specification and claims are to be understood as being modified in all instances by the term “about.” Accordingly, unless otherwise indicated, the numerical properties set forth in the specification and claims are approximations that may vary depending on the desired properties sought to be obtained in embodiments of the present invention. Notwithstanding that the numerical ranges and parameters setting forth the broad scope of the invention are approximations, the numerical values set forth in the specific examples are reported as precisely as possible. Any numerical values, however, inherently contain certain errors necessarily resulting from error found in their respective measurements. 
         [0016]    A bin label assembly  10  with an articulable indicator  50  in the extended position is shown in  FIG. 1A  having a first label face  12  having side edges  14 ,  18 , top edge  16  and a bottom edge  20 . Bottom edge  20  may include an extension  20   a.  A rear-mounting surface (not shown) is formed between mount extension  22  and lateral fin  24  as well as extension  26  and later fin  28 . Extensions  22 ,  26  connected at the upper edge  26  of label face  12 . Label face  12  is inclined from the mounting surface by an angle of approximately 30° to 45° to allow for improved visibility Lateral fins  22 ,  28  are generally planar and sized such that it is received in the label holder of an industrial bin. Indicator tab  50  extends from bottom edge  20  of front face  12 . Indicator tab  50  is extended by an operator by grasping extension  52  with the finger tips and pulling downward. Detents (not shown) may be used to retain indicator  50  at a number of positions. 
         [0017]    A bin label assembly  10  with an articulable indicator of the present invention is shown in  FIG. 1B  having a first label face  12  having side edges  14 ,  18 , top edge  16  and a bottom edge  20 . Bottom edge  20  may include an extension  20   a.  A rear-mounting surface (not shown) is formed between mount extension  22  and lateral fin  24  as well as extension  26  and lateral fin  28 . Extensions  22 ,  26  connected at the upper edge  26  of label face  12 . Label face  23  is inclined from the mounting surface by an angle of approximately 30° to 45° to allow for improved visibility Lateral fins  22 ,  28  are generally planar and sized such that it is received in the label holder of an industrial bin. 
         [0018]    The top view of the bin label assembly  10  with an articulable indicator is shown in  FIG. 2A  The front face  12  includes sides  14 ,  18 , lower extension  20   a  and top surface  16 . Mount extensions  22 ,  26  extend from the rear of the top surface. Support sidewall  32  extends from extension  22  to the rear of front face  12 . Support sidewall  36  extends from extension  26  to the rear of front face  12 . Detents are formed on the surface of sidewalls  32 ,  26  to retain indicator tab therebetween. Rear mounting surface  30  extends between side extensions  22 ,  26  may include a support wall  30  to guide indicator tab  50 . Rear mounting surface  30 , in combination with the rear surfaces of extensions  22 ,  26  and lateral fins  24 ,  28  combine to form a single surface that contacts the front face of an industrial bin. Optional leaf springs  22   a,    26   a  may be mounted to the rear of extensions  22 ,  26 . Leaf springs  22   a,    26   a  contact the front face of an industrial bin and create a friction fit between bin label assembly  10  and an industrial bin. 
         [0019]    The side view of the bin label assembly  10  with an articulable indicator  50  is shown in  FIG. 2B . The right mounting surface is shown. The label face  12 , with top surface  16  and side surface  16  includes mount extension  22  and lateral fin  24 . Sidewall  32  extends between extension  22  and the rear of label face  12 . Indicator tab  50  is inserted between the opposed sidewalls  32 ,  36  ( 36  shown in  FIG. 2A ) and may be moved between the deployed position (Shown in  FIG. 1A ) and the rest position (Shown in  FIG. 1B ). The lower edge of the indicator tab  50  includes a raised portion  52  for contact with the fingertips when as assembler moves the indicator tab  50  from the deployed position to the rest position. An optional sidewall  34  may extend from the rear surface of front face  12  to contact an optional ear  56   a  formed on the outer edge of indicator tab  50 . The sidewall  34   a  and ear  56   a  assist in alignment of the tab  50  in assembly  10 . The distal end of ear  56   a  may include a chamfer that contacts the lower end  34   a  of sidewall  34  to assist in alignment during initial assembly. A radius curve  54   a  may be formed at the junction between tab  50  and ear  56   a.    
         [0020]      FIG. 2C  shows the rear view of label base  10  with indicator tab  50  inserted. Indicator tab  50  is inserted between sidewalls  32 ,  36  and may be moved between the deployed position and the rest position. Indicator tab  50  includes a raised portion  52  for contact with the fingertips when an assembler moves the indicator tab from the deployed position to the rest position. The indicator tab includes flexible prongs  60 ,  62 . The distal end of the prongs include detents  60   a,    62   a  and stops  60   b,    62   b  to secure the indicator tab at the deployed position. The rear face is formed by mount extensions  22 ,  26 ; lateral fins  24 ,  28  and rear mounting surface  30 . A retaining device, such as leaf springs  22   a,    26   a  may be formed on any surface of  22 ,  24 ,  26 ,  28 ,  30  of the rear surface. 
         [0021]      FIG. 2D  shows the bottom view of label base  10  with indicator tab  50  inserted. Indicator tab  50  is inserted between sidewalls  32 ,  36  and may be moved between the deployed position and the rest position. Indicator tab  50  includes a raised portion  52  for contact with the fingertips when an assembler reaches below lower edge  20  and extension  20   a  of front face  12  and moves the indicator tab from the deployed position to the rest position. The indicator tab includes flexible prongs  60 ,  62  with detents  60   a,    62   a  (not shown) and stops  60   b,    62   b  (not shown) to secure the indicator tab  50  at the deployed position. Sidewalls  34  align with tab ears  56   a,    56   b  which join to tab  50  at radiused curve  54   a,    54   b . Rear wall extension  30   a  is generally parallel to label face  12  such that flexible prongs  60 ,  62  are slidable between rear wall extension  30   a  and sidewalls  32 ,  36  and label face  12 . Retaining devices  22   a,    26   a  may be formed on the rear face formed by mount extensions  22 ,  26 ; lateral fins  24 ,  28  and rear mounting surface  30 . 
         [0022]    The rear face is formed by rear surfaces of mount extensions  22 ,  26 ; lateral fins  24 ,  28  and rear mounting surface  30 . A retaining device, such as leaf springs  22   a,    26   a  may be formed on any surface of  22 ,  24 ,  26 ,  28 ,  30  of the rear surface. 
         [0023]    The indicator tab  50  is shown in  FIGS. 3A and 3B . The indicator includes a planar indicator portion  50  with a lip  52  formed on the rear to assist in deploying the tab. A pair of flexible prongs  60 ,  62  extend from the indicator portion and may taper at the distal end. Each prong includes detents  60   a,    62   a,    60   c,    62   c  to retain indicator tab  50  at the desired position and retaining lips  60   b,    6   sb  at the distal end. The proximal end of the prong may include narrowed sections  60   d,    62   d  to increase flexibility of prongs  60 ,  62  to ease insertion of the indicator tab  50  into the label base  10  and to decrease the force required to move the tab between the deployed and the rest position. Optional ears  56   a,    56   b  may be included to improve alignment. 
         [0024]    While the label base and indicator tab may be formed of any suitable material and by any method, typically the bases are formed of injection molded plastic or metal. Generally the label base will be formed of by injection molding from ABS, acetyl polymers, nylon, or polystyrene (HIPS), polypropylene or polyethylene is or any other suitable polymer. The label may also be made from stamped and formed metal.