Price indicator mounting apparatus

Abstract: An apparatus for mounting a price indicator (23) on a front portion (24) of a display shelf includes a shelf mounting assembly (21), an indicator mounting means (22) for holding the price indicator (23), and a screw (33) for attaching the indicator mounting means (22) to the shelf mounting assembly (21). The shelf mounting assembly includes a bracket (31) and a plate (32) having a threaded hole in which the screw (33) engages. When the screw (33) is tightened, the plate (32) is pulled towards the bracket (31) thereby urging shelf engaging portions (26a,26b) of the bracket (31) away from each other so as to engage with co-operating portions of the front portion (24) of the shelf and thereby secure the shelf mounting assembly (21), together with the indicator mounting means (22), to the shelf. When the indicator (23) is held in the indicator mounting means (22), it covers the head of the screw (33) so as to render the screw (33) inaccessible by a member of the public.

Description: The present invention relates to a price indicator mounting apparatus for installing price indicators on display shelves of showcases in a price display system being used in stores such as supermarkets. A price display system is a system in which price indicators are arranged on each showcase in association with the different kinds of commodities and serve to indicate the price of every individual commodity. It is desirable that each indication should be capable of being changed promptly as required. US Patent 3,014,294 discloses an adjustable price tag apparatus for fixing to the front of a shelf at a retail establishment. The arrangement provides for means by which the tags are not only readily adjustable, but can also be quickly mounted upon the front face of a shelf and, quickly, and quite readily, removed therefrom. US Patent 3,084,463 discloses a shelf strip for fixing to the front face of a shelf at a retail establishment and which not only serves to provide some indication of price etc. but also houses illuminating means so as to clearly highlight the information being displayed. Again, as with US Patent 3,014,294, the subject matter of US Patent 3,084,463 can be readily mounted upon, but easily and readily removed from, the front face of a shelf. In view of the very large number of commodities displayed in a large store, it may be necessary to install several ten thousands of price indicators. It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide an inexpensive price indicator mounting apparatus for facilitating the installation of price indicator means on display shelves. According to the invention there is provided an apparatus for mounting price indicator means on a display shelf comprising shelf mounting means, indicator mounting means for holding said price indicator means, and screw means for attaching said indicator mounting means to said shelf mounting means, whereby tightening of said screw means brings about relative movement between first and second portions of said shelf mounting means so as to cause shelf engaging portions of said shelf mounting means to engage with said shelf and secure said shelf mounting means to said shelf, and characterized by holding means for holding said price indicator means in said indicator mounting means so as to cover said screw means and render said screw means inaccessible when said price indicator means is held by said holding means in said indicator mounting means. Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a first embodiment of an apparatus in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 2 is a general view of a showcase in which price indicators are installed using the price indicator mounting units of the present invention; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a display shelf mounting member: Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a price indicator mounting member; Fig. 5 is a part sectional view showing a shelf mounting member and an indicator mounting member connected together, and showing the shelf mounting member connected to a front end of a display shelf; Fig. 6 is a part sectional view similar to Fig.5 but in which a different shelf mounting member is used; Fig. 7 is a part sectional view showing a price indicator engaged with the indicator mounting member of previous figures, and showing a releasing plate for releasing such engagement; Fig. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the components shown in Fig.7; Fig. 9 is an exploded perspective view of a second embodiment of an apparatus in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 10 is a sectional view showing the manner in which the components of Fig.9 are connected together; Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the indicator mounting member of Figs. 9 and 10, and an advertising paper; and Fig. 12 is a side view of a modified form of the indicator mounting member of Figs. 9 to 11. Referring to Fig. 1, 21 represents a display shelf mounting member, 22 an indicator mounting member, and 23 a price indicator. A front end 24 of a display shelf of a showcase is shown enlarged. First, the shelf mounting member 21 is connected to the indicator mounting member 22. Then, the shelf mounting member 21 and the indicator mounting member 22 which have been coupled together are connected to the front end 24 of the display shelf. Thereafter, the price indicator 23 is fitted to the indicator mounting member 22, the price indicator 23 being thereby secured to the showcase. The manner in which price indicators 23 have been fitted to a showcase 60 using price indicator mounting units of the present invention is shown in Fig. 2. In this figure, one set of price indicators have been installed on a display shelf 62 of the showcase 60 using mounting units in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention, while other price indicators have been installed on a display shelf 64 of the showcase 60, using a mounting unit in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention which is to be described later. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the display shelf mounting member 21. The shelf mounting member 21 comprises a bracket 31, a stopper plate 32 and a screw 33. Bracket ends 26a and 26b of the mounting member 21 respectively have tips 25a and 25b which extend outwardly in order to be able to engage with co-operating portions of the front end 24 of the display shelf. The screw 33 passes through an opening provided in the central part of the bracket 31, and engages in a threaded screw hole provided in the stopper plate 32. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the indicator mounting member 22. The central part of the indicator mounting member 22 is provided with an opening 50. As seen in Fig.4, the opening 50 comprises a larger portion, larger than the head diameter of the screw 33, and a smaller portion, adjoining the larger portion, which is smaller than the head diameter of the screw 33 but larger than the screw shaft diameter. Fig. 5 is a sectional drawing viewed from the side and showing the manner in which the display shelf mounting member 21 and the indicator mounting member 22 are connected together and the manner in which the mounting member 21 and the front end 24 of the display shelf are coupled together. Fig. 6 shows the situation where another bracket 71 is mounted in place of the bracket 31. As is clear from this drawing, by exchanging a bracket for another one having a different shape, optional fitting angles can be obtained for the indicator mounting means 22, depending for example on the height of the relevant shelf. The front end 24 of the display shelf has a concave face so that a price indicator can be held therein at an appropriate angle to the vertical. Referring to Figs. 1 and 5, the manner in which the display shelf mounting member 21, the indicator mounting member 22 and the front end 24 of the display shelf are connected together will now be described. First, in order to connect the mounting member 21 to the indicator mounting member 22, the head of the screw 33 is passed through the larger portion of the opening 50 while the screw is loosely mounted in the mounting member 21, and the mounting member 21 and the mounting member 22 are brought into contact with each other. Then, after shifting the indicator mounting member 22 in the direction of the arrow D so as to accommodate the shaft of the screw 33 in the small portion of the opening 50, the screw 33 is fastened (or tightened). Subsequently, the display shelf mounting member 21 and the indicator mounting member 22 which have been coupled together are connected to the front end 24 of the display shelf according to the following procedures. Firstly, the bracket tips 25a and 25b of the display shelf mounting member 21 are respectively positioned adjacent upper and lower portions of the front end 24 of the display shelf. Next, as shown in Fig. 5, the screw 33 is fastened (or tightened). As a result of this fastening (or tightening), the stopper plate 32 is moved to the right as shown by the arrow C, so as to force the bracket ends 26a and 26b outwardly away from each other. Thus, the bracket tips 25a and 25b are moved outwards in the directions of arrows A and B shown in Fig. 5 so as to engage opposed portions of the front end 24 of the display shelf. It will be appreciated that the tension of the bracket ends 26a and 26b increases as the screw 33 is tightened, thereby firmly securing the mounting member 21 to the display shelf. From the foregoing, it will be understood that the screw 33 makes both the connection between the display shelf mounting member 21 and the indicator mounting member 22, and also the connection between the mounting member 21 and the front end 24 of the display shelf by virtue of a single tightening operation of the screw 33. Figs. 7 and 8 show the manner in which the price indicator 23 and the indicator mounting member 22 engage with each other, together with a releasing plate 43 for releasing their engagement. The indicator mounting member 22 is provided with a shoulder 38 and a recessed portion 39, respectively, at the upper and lower ends thereof. Flexible protrusion means 40 arranged to engage with the shoulder 38 are formed at the upper end of the price indicator 23, and protrusion means 41 arranged to engage with the recessed portion 39 are formed at the lower end of the price indicator 23. The procedure of fitting together the indicator mounting member 22 and the price indicator 23 is such that first the protrusion means 41 are engaged with the recessed portion 39, and then the price indicator 23 is pivoted into full engagement with the indicator mounting member 22. At this time, the flexible protrusion means 40 are pressed and bent downward by the shoulder 38 of the indicator mounting member 22. When the price indicator 23 is fitted completely in the indicator mounting member 22, the flexible protrusion means 40 return to the normal position due to elastic recovery force so as to securely hold the price indicator 23 in the indicator mounting member 22. A plurality of the engagement portions described may be provided. By doing so, the reliability of engagement would be improved. Release of the connection between the indicator mounting member 22 and the price indicator 23 is achieved by inserting the releasing plate 43 into a gap between the upper portion of the price indicator 23 and the adjacent portion of the indicator mounting member 22 so as to release the protrusion means 40 from engagement with the shoulder 38. As best shown in Fig.8, the price indicator 23 has two pairs of protrusions 40 adjacent the right and left sides of the indicator 23. A protruding portion 42 is provided between each pair of protrusions 40 of the price indicator 23. It will be appreciated that the releasing plate 43 has notches corresponding to these portions 42. Thus, a plate not having these notches cannot be used to release the connection between the indicator mounting member 22 and the price indicator 23. In addition, since the screw 33 which connects the display shelf mounting member 21 and the front end 24 of the display shelf and which also connects the display shelf mounting member 21 and the indicator mounting member 22 is covered by the price indicator 23, the screw 33 is rendered in accessible. It is therefore difficult for a member of the public to effect an authorised release of the connection. Thus, the present invention provides a price indicator mounting unit which can be used with showcases of various types and which enables a price indicator to be connected to a showcase easily, no matter where the showcase is located, but which cannot be removed easily by shopping customers. Next, with reference to Fig. 9, a second embodiment of the present invention is described hereinafter. As is understood from a comparison between Figs. 1 and 9, the second embodiment is to a large extent similar to the first embodiment. The point of difference from the first embodiment is that an indicator mounting rail 29 is provided instead of the indicator mounting member 22. The external appearance of the mounting unit of the second embodiment is shown in Fig. 2 (on display shelf 64). The indicator mounting rail 29 can be used to install a plurality of price indicators. Referring to Fig. 9, the indicator mounting rail 29 has a form of construction similar to the indicator mounting member 22. The differences between them are that the indicator mounting rail 29 is laterally longer than the indicator mounting member 22 so that a plurality of price indicators can be attached to one indicator mounting rail 29, and that, in order to firmly secure an indicator mounting rail 29 to a display board, the indicator mounting rail 29 is provided with a plurality of openings 51 for screws 33, the openings 51 being of the same shape as the openings 50. Fig. 10 shows an embodiment concerning the mounting of the price indicator 23 in the case where the end face of a shelf is flat (hereinafter referred to as flat rail 67). The differences from Fig. 9 are only in the construction of the display shelf mounting member. The display shelf mounting member 30 for the flat rail 67 comprises a bracket 35, a bracket clamp 36 and a screw 57. The connection together of the components shown in Fig. 10 will now be described. Passing the screw 57 through an opening provided in the indicator mounting rail 29 and through an opening provided in the bracket rail 35, the screw 57 is fastened into a screw hole of the bracket clamp 36. As the screw 57 is fastened (or tightened), the bracket clamp 36 turns in the direction of arrow E about a line 37 at which the bracket 35 and the bracket clamp 36 contact each other, whereby the flat rail 67 is secured between the bracket 35 and the bracket clamp 36. Further, taking into account the fact that the bracket clamp 36 turns and is pulled towards the screw head while the screw 57 is fastened (or tightened), and by providing a protrusion on the bracket clamp 36 able to engage with an end 68 of the flat rail 67, the mounting member 30 is attached to the flat rail 67. The flat rail 67 has a plurality of holes in an upper plate on which commodities are arranged. Therefore, by providing protrusions on the bracket 35 for engagement with the holes in the upper plate of the flat rail 67, the mounting member 30 is more securely attached to the flat rail 67. It should be clear that the mounting member 30 can also be connected to the indicator mounting member 22. A notch-like slit 44 is provided at the lower edge of the indicator mounting member 22 or indicator mounting rail 29 as shown in Fig. 11, and the slit is made so that an advertising paper sheet 66 for advertisement or for representing information concerning commodities is inserted. The paper sheet 66 is secured between edges of the slit 44. Thereby detailed information about the commodity shown by the price indicator 23 can be presented. Referring to Fig. 12, in the case where there is not a frequent price change, instead of installing the price indicator 23, a commodity label 69 representing price, information and the like may be provided on the indicator mounting member 22 or the indicator mounting rail 29, the member 22 or mounting rail being provided with a transparent cover plate 45 made of transparent plastic or the like. The cover plate 45 covers the commodity label 69 so as to protect it from extraneous matter, such as dust or water, particularly at a time of floor cleaning.

Claims: An apparatus for mounting price indicator means (23) on a display shelf (62) comprising shelf mounting means (21), indicator mounting means (22) for holding said price indicator means (23), and screw means (33) for attaching said indicator mounting means (22) to said shelf mounting means (21), whereby tightening of said screw means (33) brings about relative movement between first and second portions (31, 32) of said shelf mounting means so as to cause shelf engaging portions (26a, 26b) of said shelf mounting means (21) to engage with said shelf (62) and secure said shelf mounting means to said shelf, and characterized by holding means (40, 38) for holding said price indicator means (23) in said indicator mounting means (22) so as to cover said screw means (33) and render said screw means (33) inaccessible when said price indicator means (23) is held by said holding means (40, 38) in said indicator mounting means (22). An apparatus according to Claim 1, characterized in that said indicator means (23) is releasably held in said indicator mounting means (22) by virtue of first engagement means (40) provided on said indicator member (23) engaging with second engagement means (38) provided on said indicator mounting means (22), one of said first and second engagement means (40, 38) being flexible. An apparatus according to Claim 2, characterized by releasing means (43) for releasing said first and second engagement means (40, 38) from engagement with each other so as to permit removal of said price indicator means (23) from said indicator mounting means (22). An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said shelf engaging portions are formed by end portions (26a, 26b) of said first portion (31) of said shelf mounting means (21), and in that said second portion of said shelf mounting means is formed by a member (32) interposed between said end portions, whereby tightening of said screw means (33) pulls said member (32) towards said first portion of said shelf mounting means (21) causing said end portions to be urged outwardly so as to engage with cooperating portions of said shelf (62) and thereby secure said shelf mounting means to said shelf. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said indicator mounting means (22) has aperture means (50) through which shaft means of said screw means (33) pass, head means of said screw means serving to secure said indicator mounting means to said shelf mounting means (21) in response to tightening of said screw means (33). An apparatus according to Claim 5, characterized in that said aperture means comprises at least one aperture (50) having a smaller aperture portion adjoining a larger aperture portion, and in that said screw means (33) comprises at least one screw (33) having a head smaller than said larger aperture portion but larger than said smaller aperture portion, and having a shaft smaller than said smaller aperture portion, said indicator mounting means (22) being adapted to be fitted to said shelf mounting means (21) by placing said indicator mounting means against said shelf mounting means so that the head of the or each screw (33) passes through an associated larger aperture portion of said aperture means (50), and moving said indicator mounting means laterally with respect to said shelf mounting means so as to position the shaft of the or each screw in the associated smaller aperture portion, said screw means (33) being thereafter tightened. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said indicator mounting means (22) is provided with a transparent cover (45) for covering said indicator means (69) and protecting said indicator means from extraneous matter. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said indicator mounting means (22) is provided with a slit (44) into which a paper sheet (60) may be inserted. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that one (31) of said first and second portions (31, 32) of said shelf mounting means (21) is exchangeable for a portion of different shape so as to provide a different mounting angle for said price indicator means (22).

Inventors: HAMANO TSUTOMU, HAMANO, TSUTOMU
Applicants: NCR INT INC, NCR INTERNATIONAL, INC.
Application year: 1995
Main classification: G09F3
IPC codes: G09F3, G09F7