Tri-mount sign system

A mounting system for mounting a sign, such as a sheet or a panel to a shelf system having a pair of support posts and a shelf extending transverse to the support posts, includes a display portion having first and second generally parallel, spaced apart runners connected to one another by a pair of spaced apart connecting members defining a sign receiving region. The display portion includes at least one of a shelf mounting bracket receiving region, a wall surface mounting bracket receiving region and a wall top mounting bracket receiving region. The shelf mounting bracket receiving region includes a pivoting element for pivotally mounting the display portion to a shelf mounting bracket for pivoting the display portion between a first position and a second position. The display portion is maintained in the first position by releasable engagement of the display portion with the shelf mounting bracket. The wall surface mounting bracket receiving region includes an elongated opening in at least one of the connecting members intermediate the runners. The opening extends along a portion of the connecting member and is adapted to receive a wall surface mounting bracket. The wall top mounting bracket receiving region includes a notch in one of the runners at an end thereof. The notch extends along a portion of the runner and is adapted to receive a wall top mounting bracket. A shelf mounting bracket is used to mount the display portion to the shelf. The wall surface and wall top mounting brackets are used to mount the display portion between the pair of support posts.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention pertains to a sign mounting system. More 
particularly, the invention pertains to a sign mounting system for 
mounting a sign to a shelf, a shelf partition wall face, and a shelf 
partition wall top. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
Point-of-purchase displays and signs have become extremely popular in all 
manner of retail trades. Such signs can be particularly effective 
marketing tools when properly designed and utilized. 
An extremely large number of different types of such point-of-purchase 
displays exist. These displays vary from the active-type, such as rotating 
signs for eyeglasses and the like, to commonly known passive types of 
signs such as overhead display signs. In a well-recognized arrangement, 
the signs are positioned on the shelves on which the goods are stocked, or 
on the vertical standards that support the shelves. In this manner, the 
signs are used to direct consumers' attention to the particular goods or 
items that are on the shelves. 
One effective way to direct consumers' attention to particular goods or 
items is to place the signs at the front of the shelves, on top of 
partition walls supporting the shelves or on the face of such partition 
walls. One known type of sign that is positioned near the goods to be 
displayed, is permanently affixed to the shelf front. While such a sign is 
effective at directing consumers' attention to particular items or 
products that are located on the shelf, because the sign is permanently 
affixed to the shelf, it can create difficulty in restocking the shelf. 
Additionally, permanently affixed signs can be easily damaged if due care 
is not exercised when restocking the shelves. 
Another known type of sign system includes a mounting portion that is 
permanently affixed to, for example, a vertical shelf standard, and 
includes an arm that extends out from the mounting bracket and has a 
pivoting head at the end of the arm. The sign is mounted to the pivoting 
head to permit the sign to be moved out of the way during shelf 
restocking. One major drawback to this particular sign arrangement is that 
there are many small hardware items that are necessary for assembling the 
sign, and many of the hardware items must be removed in order to pivot the 
sign out of the way from its normal, display position to the restocking 
position to restock the shelf. 
In many known shelving arrangements, the shelves extend from vertical 
supports posts having partition walls extending between and connecting the 
posts. The shelves rest on brackets or supports that extend from both 
sides of the face of the partition walls. Various different types of 
point-of-purchase display systems are known for these shelving systems. 
One particular kind of sign is mounted to the vertical supports or the 
face of the partition wall behind the shelves. Another known type of sign 
extends upwardly from the top of the partition walls at a height above the 
floor that provides increased visibility over greater distances. 
While these sign systems can be effective in directing consumers' attention 
to a particular product or shelf location, such systems suffer from a 
variety of drawbacks. First, as with the shelf mounted signs discussed 
above, these sign systems are relatively inflexible in that they cannot be 
installed in more than one manner on a particular shelving system. In 
addition, because of the differences between such sign systems, the 
installation hardware for these systems typically varies from one system 
to the next and does not permit interchangeability. As will be recognized 
by users of such sign systems, these drawbacks can result in increased 
costs for maintaining a large quantity of different sign types and their 
respective mounting hardware, and can also result in not having on-hand 
the proper signage to, for example, advertise a sale or special item. 
Accordingly, there is a need for a flexible sign mounting system that 
permits a sign to be mounted to commonly used shelving systems in a 
variety of configurations. Desirably, such a sign system permits a sign to 
be mounted to the front and/or horizontal surface of a shelf, as well as 
to the face of a partition wall backing for the shelf, and the top of such 
a partition wall. Most desirably, such a shelving system utilizes common 
components among the different types of installation arrangements, and 
permits the signs to be installed with minimal hardware and tools. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
A mounting system provides for mounting a sign, such as a sheet or a panel, 
to a shelf system having support posts and at shelves extending from the 
posts. The system permits mounting the sign to a shelf front or on the 
support posts at the face of a partition wall that extends between the 
posts or to the top of the posts. 
The mounting system includes a display portion having first and second 
generally parallel, spaced apart runners connected to one another by a 
pair of spaced apart connecting members. The runners and connecting 
members define a frame or sign receiving region. The display portion 
includes at least one of a shelf mounting bracket receiving region, a wall 
surface mounting bracket receiving region and a wall top mounting bracket 
receiving region. The system further includes a shelf mounting bracket, a 
wall surface mounting bracket and/or a wall top mounting bracket. 
The shelf mounting bracket receiving region includes a pivoting element for 
pivotally mounting the display portion to the shelf mounting bracket for 
pivoting the display portion between a first position and a second 
position. The display portion is maintained in the first position by 
releasable engagement of the display portion with the shelf mounting 
bracket. 
The wall surface mounting bracket receiving region includes an elongated 
opening in at least one of the connecting members intermediate the 
runners. The opening extends along a portion of the connecting member and 
is adapted to receive the wall surface mounting bracket. The wall top 
mounting bracket receiving region includes a notch in one of the runners 
at an end thereof. The notch extends along a portion of the runner and is 
adapted to receive the wall top mounting bracket. 
Advantageously, the present tri-mount system permits the use of a single 
display portion that is configured for use in any of the three 
aforementioned mounting configurations. That is, the same display portion 
can be used as either a shelf front sign, a partition wall surface sign or 
a partition wall top sign. Moreover, the mounting brackets are 
interchangeable between signs, as are the signs interchangeable among 
mounting brackets. The sign mounting system can thus provide a 
considerable cost savings over known sign mounting systems. 
In addition, the present system requires no additional hardware for 
mounting a sign in any of the three configurations. That is, unlike known 
sign systems that require additional hardware, the present tri-mount 
system requires only the mounting brackets to install the display portion 
to a shelf system. Moreover, using the present tri-mount system, signs can 
be installed without tools. The various mounting brackets of the present 
system lock onto shelves and engage support posts by frictional and 
snap-lock cantilever arrangements such that no tools are necessary for 
installation. This greatly reduces the time necessary and attendant costs 
for producing creative and "attention-getting" merchandising displays. 
A preferred mounting arrangement includes a shelf mounting bracket having a 
shelf rest that rests on, or lies adjacent the shelf. The rest includes 
engaging projections at an end thereof for engaging the shelf and a hinge 
that pivotally mounts the display portion thereto for pivoting the display 
portion between the first position and the second position. Preferably, 
the hinge is formed on a hinge arm that extends generally transversely 
from the rest, and is operably connected to the display portion at one of 
the first and second runners. 
To lock the display portion into the first position, a tab can extend from 
one of the connecting members, and the shelf mounting bracket can include 
a display engaging member for engaging the tab. In this manner, the 
display portion is releasably locked to the bracket when it is in the 
first position. The tab and display engaging member are releasable from 
one another to pivot the display portion to the second position. For ease 
of releasing the display portion, the display engaging member is readily 
accessible and extends through an opening formed in the connecting member. 
In a preferred configuration, the rest includes at least one, and more 
preferably a plurality of engaging projections, at least one of which is a 
locking projection. The projections are adapted to insert and lock into 
corresponding openings in the shelf to define a cantilever retaining 
arrangement of the bracket on the shelf. The bracket can further include a 
shelf hook that extends from the rest for releasably locking the bracket 
to the shelf. 
The wall surface mounting bracket is adapted to mount the display portion 
to the support posts. The wall surface bracket includes a main body having 
at least two projections extending from a side of the body for inserting 
and locking into corresponding openings in the support posts. Display 
engaging elements extend from an opposing side of the body and are 
configured to releasably, lockingly engage the display portion to secure 
the display portion to the posts. Preferably, the display engaging 
elements have an arcuate shape to facilitate engaging the display portion 
to the bracket. 
In a most preferred wall surface mounting arrangement, the bracket includes 
a pair of substantially identical display engaging elements spaced from 
one another and adapted to releasably, lockingly engage two display 
portions in side-to-side relation to one another. 
The wall top mounting bracket is used to mount the display portion to the 
support posts at the top of the posts. The wall top mounting bracket has a 
main body and at least two projections extending from an end of the body 
for inserting and locking into corresponding openings in the support 
posts. A display engaging element extends from an opposing end of the body 
and is configured to engage the display portion to secure the display 
portion to the top of the posts. 
Preferably, the wall top mounting bracket includes a pair of substantially 
identical display engaging elements spaced from one another. Similar to 
the wall surface mounting brackets, the engaging elements of the top mount 
are configured to engage two display portions in side-to-side relation to 
one another. 
Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent 
from the following detailed description, in conjunction with the 
accompanying drawings, and the appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
While the present invention is susceptible of embodiment in various forms, 
there is shown in the drawings and will hereinafter be described presently 
preferred embodiments with the understanding that the present disclosure 
is to be considered an exemplification of the invention and is not 
intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments illustrated. 
Referring now the figures and in particular to FIG. 1, there is shown one 
embodiment of a tri-mount sign system 10 embodying the principles of the 
present invention. The sign mount system 10 is shown in a rear perspective 
view, exploded relative to the shelf 12 to which the sign is mounted. The 
shelf 12 includes a relatively flat horizontal surface 14 having a 
plurality of openings 16 therein at about a front edge 18 of the shelf 12, 
and a lip 20 that extends downwardly, transverse to the horizontal surface 
14. 
The sign mount system 10 includes, generally, a display portion 22, one or 
more semi-tubular finishing elements 24, and a mounting bracket, such as 
the exemplary shelf mounting bracket 26 illustrated in FIGS. 1-4. The 
shelf mounting bracket 26 is used to support the display portion 22 when 
used as a shelf 12 front display. 
The display portion 22 includes a pair of parallel, spaced apart, 
semi-tubular runner portions 28 and a plurality of transverse connecting 
members 30 extending between the runners 28 intermediate the ends thereof. 
Additional connecting members that define a pair of end rails 32 extend 
generally parallel to the connecting members 30 at about the respective 
ends of the semi-tubular runners 28. A sign 34, such as the exemplary 
sheet or panel, is affixed to the display portion 22 extending between the 
runners 28 and the end rails 32. In the embodiment of the system 10 
illustrated in FIG. 1, the finishing element 24, which is semi-tubular in 
cross-section, similar to the runners 28, is mounted to the back of one of 
the runners 28 to provide a finished look to the display portion 22. 
The shelf mounting bracket 26 permits the display portion 22 to be 
pivotally mounted to a shelf 12 front so that the display portion 22 can 
be pivoted is between a first position as indicated at 36 in FIG. 2 and as 
illustrated in FIG. 3, and a second position as indicated at 38 in FIG. 2. 
In a contemplated mounting arrangement, the first position 36 is used as a 
display orientation and the second position 38 is used as a restocking or 
storage orientation to facilitate restocking the shelf 12 on which the 
display portion 22 is mounted. It will, however, be recognized by those 
skilled in the art that other orientations are contemplated by use of the 
present system 10, which other orientations are within the scope of the 
present invention. 
The shelf mounting bracket 26 includes a generally planar shelf rest 40 
that rests on, e.g., lies adjacent, and engages the shelf 12, a shelf hook 
42 that extends generally transversely from the rest 40, and a display 
hinge arm 44 that also extends generally transversely from the rest 40 in 
substantially the same direction as the shelf hook 42. The hook 42 and 
hinge arm 44 extend from the rest 40 intermediate first and second ends, 
46, 48, respectively. 
Referring now to FIG. 4, a plurality of shelf engaging projections 50 
extend from the rest first end 46, generally transversely thereto, and are 
configured to engage the holes or openings 16 in the shelf 12. In this 
manner, when the projections 50 are engaged with the shelf openings 16 and 
the hook 42 is positioned over the shelf lip 20, the shelf mounting 
bracket 26 is secured in place on the shelf 12 front. The projections 50 
that extend from the bracket rest 40 include locking projections 52 that 
extend outwardly beyond the rest first end 46 and define cantilever 
portions 54. This arrangement provides for locking the rest 40 onto the 
shelf 12 when the projections 50, 52 are engaged with the shelf 12. 
As will be apparent from the drawings, when the projections 50, 52 are 
inserted into the shelf openings 16, the locking projections 52 extend 
beyond the openings 16 and engage a bottom surface 56 of the shelf 12. 
These locking projections 52 provide a cantilever locking arrangement that 
maintains the rest first end 46 engaged with the shelf 12 while the shelf 
hook 42 maintains the second end 48 of the rest 40 in engagement with the 
shelf 12. 
A display engaging member 58 is disposed at the rest second end 48 in 
opposing relation to the projections 50, 52. The engaging member 58 is 
configured to engage the display portion 22, preferably at the connecting 
members 30, to maintain the display portion 22 in the first, e.g., display 
position 36, as illustrated in FIG. 3. The hinge arm 44 includes a hinge 
60 about which the display portion 22 rotates or pivots and defines an 
axis of rotation A. The display portion 22 can be pivoted from the display 
position 36 to the second, e.g., restocking position 38, so that the shelf 
12 on which the display 22 is mounted can be readily restocked without 
having to reach over, and possibly damaging the display 22. 
Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 3, it can be seen that the connecting members 
30 each include an opening 62 therein and a tab 64 extending from the 
member 30 into the opening 62. Respective display engaging members 58 
extend through these openings 62 and engage or lock into the tabs 64 to 
maintain the display portion 22 in the display position 36. The engaging 
members 58 and tabs 64 releasably lock into one another so that the 
display portion 22 can be readily pivoted from the display position 36 
into the restocking position 38. 
FIG. 3 illustrates installation of the shelf mounting bracket 26 onto the 
shelf 12. The mounting bracket 26 is positioned above the shelf 12, at an 
angle so as to engage the locking projections 52 with a linear arrangement 
of shelf openings, as indicated at 16a. The locking projections 52 are 
inserted into the shelf openings 16aso that the cantilever portions 54 of 
the projections 52 lie adjacent the shelf bottom surface 56. The bracket 
26 is rotated downwardly so that the other, non-cantilever projections 50 
engage the shelf openings 16. The shelf hook 42 is then engaged with the 
shelf lip 42 to lock the mounting bracket 26 in place. Because the locking 
projections 52 extend beyond the openings 16a and engage the bottom 
surface 56, the mounting bracket 26 is retained in place by the cantilever 
effect. 
Still referring to FIG. 3, the display portion 22 is then locked into the 
display position 36 by engagement of the display engaging members 58 with 
the tabs 64 that extend from the connecting members 30. To rotate or pivot 
the display portion 22 into the restocking position 38, the rest second 
ends 48, at about the engaging members 58 are urged downward, out of 
engagement with their respective tabs 64, and the display portion 22 is 
pivoted downwardly as shown at 38 in FIG. 2, to restock the shelf 12. To 
again reposition the display portion 22 in the display position 36, the 
display 22 is rotated upwardly to the display position 36 until the 
engaging members 58 and tabs 64 engage one another. It is anticipated that 
engagement of the engaging members 58 and tabs 64 will be visually 
apparent and audibly apparent by a "clicking" sound as the tabs 64 and 
members 58 lock into one another. 
FIGS. 5 through 7 illustrate an embodiment of the tri-mount display system 
in which the display portion 22 is mounted to the vertical support members 
or posts 102 of a partition wall 104, such as a display wall. As can be 
seen both from FIGS. 1 and 5, the end rails 32 of the display portion 22 
include elongated slots or openings 70 that extend generally parallel to 
the axis of the end rails 32. The slots 70 are configured to engage a wall 
surface mounting bracket 72 that extends between the support posts 102 and 
the display portion 22. The wall surface mounting brackets 72 include a 
main body portion 74 having projections 76 extending from a side thereof 
that are adapted to engage openings 106 in the support posts 102. 
Display engaging elements 78 extend from an opposing side of the main body 
portion 74 and are adapted to engage and lock into the elongated slots 70 
in the end rails 32. The display engaging elements 78 can frictionally 
engage rails 32 at the slots 70, or the elements 78 can include slots (not 
shown) extending along a portion of each element's base to lock into the 
display portion 22. 
In a presently preferred embodiment, the projections 76 that extend from 
the main body portion 74 are configured similar to the projections 50, 52 
extending from the rest portion 40 of the shelf bracket 26, as illustrated 
in FIG. 4. That is, an end projection 80 extends beyond the body 74 in a 
cantilever arrangement, and is adapted insert and lock into an opening 106 
in the support post 102. The remaining projections 76 insert into 
respective openings 106 in the post 102. This arrangement provides 
positive engagement of the surface mounting bracket 72 with the support 
post 102 and positive engagement of the bracket 72 with the display 22, to 
maintain the display 22 affixed to the post 102 and partition wall 104. As 
shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the display portion can be fitted with finishing 
elements 24 to provide a finished look to the display 22. Alternately, the 
display 22 can be used without the finishing elements. 
Referring now to FIGS. 8 and 9, there is shown still another mounting 
arrangement for the tri-mount display system. In this arrangement, the 
display portion 22 is mounted to the top of the partition walls 104 
described above. The support posts 102 generally include an open top 108 
covered with a top cap portion (not shown). As illustrated in FIG. 9, a 
partition wall top mounting bracket 84 is inserted into the top 108 of 
each post 102 (replacing the cap). 
The wall top bracket 84 includes a main body 86 having a pair of 
spaced-apart retaining legs 88 that may be connected to one another by a 
crossmember 90. The legs 88 insert into the support post 102. At least 
one, and preferably a pair of upwardly extending mount elements 92 extend 
from the body 86. The mount elements 92 insert into openings or notches 66 
that are provided in the display portion 22 at about the bottom thereof. 
The finishing elements 24 can also include corresponding openings to 
accommodate the mount elements 92. 
In a preferred embodiment, the wall top mounting brackets 84 each include a 
pair of upwardly extending mount elements 92 and each element 92 is 
configured to engage a display portion 22. In this manner, as illustrated 
in FIG. 8, the displays 22 can be mounted in side-to-side relation with a 
single mounting bracket 84 used to support the pair of side-to-side 
displays 22. Preferably, the wall top mount bracket 84 is friction fitted 
into both the support post 102 as well as the display portion 22. 
The display system 22 can be fabricated from a variety of materials using a 
variety of forming methods and processes. A presently contemplated display 
system 10, including the display portion 22, the shelf bracket 26 and the 
wall surface and top brackets 72, 84 are formed from using an injection 
molding process. These materials provide strength and light-weight in cost 
effective display "package". It will however be recognized by those 
skilled in the art that other materials and methods can be used to 
fabricate the system 10, which other materials and methods are within the 
scope of the present invention. 
From the foregoing, it will be observed that numerous modifications and 
variations can be effectuated without departing from the true spirit and 
scope of the normal concepts of the present invention. It is to be 
understood that no limitation with respect to the specific embodiments 
illustrated is intended or should be inferred. The disclosure is intended 
to cover by the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the 
scope of the claims.