Electronic shelf labels for mounting in c channels of retail shelves and method for mounting

An electronic shelf label has a housing which is formed oversized and later shaped to fit securely into a C channel of a targeted shelf, without requiring any additional hardware fixtures for mounting.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to electronic shelf labels and, in 
particular, to an electronic shelf label for mounting in a C channel of a 
retail shelf and to a method of mounting the label. 
Electronic shelf labels are mounted throughout a store or business to 
display information about products located on shelves near the labels. The 
shelves typically have a C channel at the front edge. Presently, 
electronic shelf labels are mounted to the shelves with additional 
hardware fixtures, some of which attach to the shelves outside the C 
channel with screws or other fasteners. Additional hardware fixtures may 
also consist of long rails in which the labels fit in order to protect the 
labels from impacts, such as from shopping carts or forklifts. These 
additional hardware fixtures may also move the label out farther from the 
shelving, increasing the likelihood that the label will be knocked off the 
shelf. These additional hardware fixtures increase the unit cost and the 
installation time for each label. 
Another difficulty in providing and mounting shelf labels is that the 
dimension of the opening of various C channels can vary by 1/4 inch to 3/8 
inch between shelf manufacturers or between stores. 
There is a need for a label which can be mounted securely in a C channel of 
a shelf despite wide variations in C channels among retail shelves of 
various stores and which does not require additional hardware fixtures. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, a shelf label 
housing is formed oversized and later shaped to fit securely into a C 
channel of a targeted shelf. 
It is an object of the present invention to provide an electronic shelf 
label which mounts securely in the C channel of retail shelves with 
minimal installation effort or cost. 
It is another object of the present invention to provide an electronic 
shelf label which mounts in the C channel of retail shelves, reducing the 
likelihood of damage due to impacts, such as from shopping carts. 
It is still another object of the present invention to reduce the exposure 
of corners and edges of labels which might interfere with normal store 
activities. 
It is still another object of the present invention to provide an 
electronic shelf label which is easily installed while improving the 
aesthetic appearance of the shelf label. 
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an electronic 
shelf label which is formed oversized and is later fitted for a targeted 
shelf.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
Referring now to the drawings, in which like-referenced characters indicate 
corresponding elements throughout the several views, attention is first 
drawn to FIG. 1 which shows an electronic shelf label 10 mounted in a C 
channel 12 of a retail shelf 14. Electronic shelf label 10 has a housing 
22, a display 24, and circuitry. Electronic shelf label 10 may 
additionally have a tag with printed indicia 28. Electronic shelf label 10 
may additionally have slots 30 in the housing 22 to aid in removal from 
the C channel. The electronic shelf label housing 22 is formed by a 
molding process, preferably by injection molding. Any plastic material 
such as thermoplastic, ultraviolet set plastic, reactive plastics or 
epoxies may be used, including other materials which can provide label 
housings according to the present invention. The material used must have 
some flexibility to allow slight deformation during installation. The 
label housing may be formed in a single size mold. Alternatively, the 
label housing may be formed having a height dimension smaller than 
required for shelf labels in general, then additional, separate layers of 
molded material, preferably of the same material as the housing, may be 
formed to provided a larger height dimension. 
Referring to FIG. 2, an electronic shelf label housing 50 of a first 
embodiment of the present invention is formed with an overall height 
dimension A which is intentionally oversized The label housing 50 has a 
height at least slightly larger, and may be up to 3/8 inches larger, than 
or equal to the largest opening dimension of any standard shelf C channel. 
Each label housing 50 is formed with the same overall dimension regardless 
of the dimension of the shelf the label is intended for, even if the 
targeted shelf is known. For simplicity only one label housing 50 will be 
described as all the label housings are made substantially the same. 
Sometime before installation, the targeted shelf is determined and the 
required height dimension of the label housing is determined. These 
determinations may occur when a preprinted tag is attached to the label 
housing, indicating that the label is targeted for a particular shelf in a 
particular store. The label housing 50 having a dimension A is shaped to 
provide a label housing 54 with the required dimension B. A mechanical 
tool such as a mechanical router, a cutter or a shaper removes any excess 
portion 52 from oversized label housing 50 to provide label housing 54 
having the required height B. If the label housing was formed with an 
additional, separate layer of molded material (or layered stack of several 
moldings), one or more of the layers is removed to achieve the desired 
height B. Once the label housing is installed securely in the C channel, 
compression forces acting on the top and bottom of the label keep the 
separate molding layers firmly in place. 
FIG. 3 shows the label installed in the C channel 12 having a C channel 
opening height B, located on the targeted shelf. The height of the label 
housing 54 and the overall dimension of the C channel are substantially 
the same. The ends of the label housing 54 deform slightly when pushed 
into the C channel so that the ends of the label housing catch on the ends 
of the C channel, as shown in FIG. 3. Pressing or hammering with a 
soft-headed ball peen hammer applies sufficient force to slightly deform 
the ends of label housing 54. (A cover plate may additionally be used to 
protect the label.) A key slot in one end of the label provides for easy 
removal of the label from the C channel into which it is fit. Thus, the 
label is installed securely in the C channel 12 of the targeted shelf 
without additional hardware. 
The present invention provides an advantage in that all label housings can 
be formed having the same height dimension. Later when a targeted shelf is 
determined, a specific label housing can be easily shaped to press fit 
securely into the C channel of the targeted shelf. 
Referring to FIG. 4, an electronic shelf label housing 60 of a second 
embodiment of the present invention is formed with an overall height 
dimension C which is intentionally oversized. The label housing 60 has a 
height at least slightly larger, and may be up to 3/8 inches larger, than 
or equal to the largest opening dimension of any standard shelf C channel. 
Each label housing 60 is formed with the same overall dimension regardless 
of the dimension of the shelf the label is intended for, even if the 
targeted shelf is known. The label housing 60 has breakaway notches 68 for 
adjusting the overall dimension of the label housing as described below. 
The molded material comprising the areas between the breakaway notches 68 
may be molded in a single mold operation or may include separate, molded 
layers as described hereinabove. For simplicity only one label housing 60 
will be described as all the label housings are made substantially the 
same. 
Sometime before installation of the label, including the time immediately 
before the label is mounted in the C channel of a shelf, the required 
height dimension of the label housing is determined. The breakaway notches 
68 provide weak points, which break away from the label housing 60 when 
pressure is applied either manually or with a portable tool. The breakaway 
notches as shown in FIG. 4 include a second notch 70 which prevents 
sliding of the molded pieces which could cause them to shear off when 
installed in the C channel. Additionally, if desired, the breakaway 
notches may be shaped so that removing a top portion tilts the label back 
for bottom shelf mounting. Alternatively, the breakaway notches may be 
shaped so that removing a bottom portion tilts the label forward for top 
shelf mounting. This is achieved by changing the angle at which the 
portions will breakaway. Depending on which portions are excess portions 
as shown in regions 62 and 64 to be removed, the overall dimension of the 
label housing 66 can be selected to range from a required height D to a 
required height E with various tilt angles depending on which portions are 
removed. Although the label housing shown in FIG. 4 shows four breakaway 
notches, any number of breakaway notches may be provided to give desired 
flexibility in mounting size and tilt angles. 
FIG. 5 shows the label installed in the C channel 12 having a C channel 
opening height F, located on the targeted shelf. The height of the label 
housing 66 and the overall dimension of the C channel are substantially 
the same. The ends of the label housing 66 deform slightly when pushed 
into the C channel so that the ends of the label housing catch on the ends 
of the C channel, as shown in FIG. 5. The breakaway notches 68 not removed 
before installation become compressed upon installation in the C channel 
as shown in FIG. 5. Pressing or hammering with a soft-headed ball peen 
hammer applies sufficient force to slightly deform the ends of label 
housing 66. (A cover plate may additionally be used to protect the label.) 
A key slot in one end of the label housing provides for easy removal of 
the label from the C channel into which it is fit. Thus, the label is 
installed securely in the C channel 12 of the targeted shelf without 
additional hardware. 
This second embodiment of the present invention provides an additional 
advantage that label housings can be modified without special tools 
immediately before installation in a shelf. The label housing is modified 
to fit securely in the C channel of the shelf without additional hardware 
fixtures. 
Although the labels to be formed in accordance with the present invention 
may have a variety of depth dimensions, it is contemplated that at least 
the top and bottom edges of the label will fit securely within the C 
channel. Additional advantages in reducing interference with normal store 
activities can be achieved by providing a label which has an overall depth 
dimension which fits inside the C channel. In any of the above 
embodiments, adhesive or tacky material may be applied to the top and 
bottom edges of the label housing to prevent the label sliding down the C 
channel. The adhesive should provide for removal by store personnel as 
needed. 
Although the invention has been described with particular reference to 
certain preferred embodiments thereof, variations and modifications of the 
present invention can be effected within the spirit and scope of the 
following claims.