MERCHANDISE DISPLAY HOOK WITH PIVOTING LABEL HOLDER

Abstract: A merchandise display hook (12) includes a pivoting label holder (30) and a label support arm (17) and a merchandise support arm (13) below the support arm. A transversely disposed cross bar (24) is secured to the support arm (17) spaced from the end (25) thereof. Bar (24) provides a pivot for the holder (30) and the end (25) provides a stop to limit rearward movement of holder (17). Bar (24) can be positioned to provide a slightly upward tilt for the holder. In one embodiment, outer end (18) of the support arm (17) is bent downwardly and bar (24) is welded to bent portion (18). In another embodiment, the arm (17) is straight and the bar (24) is welded to the upper surface thereof spaced from the end (125). A removable adaptor (23) alters the at-rest viewing angle of the holder (30). Also holder (130) can have a tapered slot (143) with an open end (74) to ensure unhindered downward rotation of holder (130).

Description: MERCHANDISE DISPLAY HOOK WITH PIVOTING LABEL HOLDER Background and Summary of the Invention Display hooks, typically mounted on apertured panel board, slotted panels or the like are in widespread usage for displaying carded merchandise for sale. In many cases, such merchandise display hooks are combined with label- mounting means for presenting product information and pricing in association with the carded merchandise. A common form of such label-mounting means consists of an arm projecting above and generally parallel to a merchandise supporting arm and mounting a label-holding device at its forward extremity, advantageously in a position directly in front of the outer end of the merchandise display hook. The label-holding device, in such cases, serves an additional function as a means for guarding the outer end of the display hook element against accidental contact. One of the known label-mounting means for this purpose comprises a wire-like element extending outward, above the merchandise support, and terminating at its outer extremity in a welded-on cross bar element. The cross bar element serves as a pivoting support for a plastic label holder, allowing the label holder to hang downward in front of the outer end of the merchandise support. The pivoting action of the label holder facilitates product removal from the associated product support. If a product being withdrawn forwardly from its display hook engages the plastic label holder, the holder can simply pivot upward out of the way as necessary to allow the product to clear. An additional advantage of pivoting label holders in general is that, with respect to product items displayed at a low level, viewing of the product information and pricing is facilitated by allowing the customer to simply reach down and tilt the label holder upwardly, rather than having to bend or crouch to read the contents of the label. The present invention is directed to a merchandise display hook of the general type described above, including a pivoted label holder arrangement, which is both improved with respect to known constructions and is at the same time capable of more economical manufacture. To this end, the device of the invention includes a cross bar element, for pivotal support of a label holder, which is not mounted at the end extremity of its support arm, as in devices of known construction, but is welded to an upper surface portion of the support arm, at a position closely adjacent to but nevertheless displaced from the end extremity thereof. In one form of device according to the invention, the outer end extremity of the label support element is bent downward, typically at an angle of less than 90°, and defines a short label positioning element at the outer end of the label support. The cross bar element is fixed by resistance welding to an upper-outer surface portion of the downwardly angled positioning element to provide a pivotal mount for a plastic label holder. When the label holder is mounted on the cross bar, the positioning element, extending downwardly and forwardly beyond the cross bar, serves as an abutment, to limit rearward pivoting movement of the label holder. This not only prevents backward tilting of the label holder, as can occur with existing designs, but additionally allows for the merchandise display hook to be designed to provide a slight upward tilt to the label holder for more convenient viewing by prospective customers. In an alternative form of device according to the invention, the label support element is straight, and the cross bar element is fixed by resistance welding to the upper surface thereof, preferably spaced slightly back from the end extremity of the label support. The outer end face of the label support serves, in this embodiment of the invention, as an abutment stop to prevent rearward pivoting of the plastic label holder. A known plastic label holder suitable for the above- described label mounting means is formed of extruded or co- extruded plastic materials and includes a retaining clip portion with a downwardly and forwardly-facing U-shaped recess adapted to pivotally mount on the cross bar of the merchandise display hook. The retaining clip portion of the known label holder has a straight slot usually in the center thereof to accommodate the label support arm to which the cross bar is attached. The slot allows the retaining clip portion to mount over the cross bar without interfering with the label support arm. Similarly, the slot allows the label holder to pivot upward a certain amount prior to contacting the label support arm. However, as will be further described below, the applicant has determined that when the diameter of the label support arm is sufficiently large as compared to the thickness of the material comprising the retaining clip portion, the label holder is prone to becoming caught on the end of the label support arm. This can prevent the complete downward rotation of the label holder and thus can result in the label holder being undesirably tilted or propped up. As has been discovered by the applicant, this condition occurs when the relatively thin retaining clip portion slides into a convergent gap formed between the straight bottom of the cross bar and cylindrical upper surface portions of the label support arm, when the label holder is in an upwardly- rotated position. As the label holder rotates downward, the end of the retaining clip portion can contact the label support arm and hinder further downward rotation. One form of the device according to the invention includes an improved form of label holder, for mounting on a cross bar element mounted on top of a label support arm of a merchandise display hook adjacent the outer end thereof. The label holder includes a retaining clip portion with a tapered center slot which provides for pivotal mounting on a cross bar of the type described above while avoiding the problems of prior designs. The slot is tapered generally inwardly from the open end such that the open end of the slot is wider than the center. The tapered configuration ensures that the material of the retaining clip portion adjacent the open end of the slot (i.e., the end corners) can not contact the end of the label support arm during rotation. That is, the sections of the retaining clip portion which could otherwise contact the label support arm have been removed. Thus, if a retaining clip portion were to slide into the gap formed between the cross bar and the label support arm, the tapered sides of the slot would avoid contacting the label support arm and allow complete downward rotation of the label holder. To enhance visibility of the label, it is desirable that the at-rest viewing angle of the label holder be slightly inclined. The optimum viewing angle depends on the vertical position of the products on the display. For example, for product rows which are along the top of the display, it is typically desirable that the at-rest viewing angle be only slightly inclined. For products along the bottom, however, a greater inclination is often desired. The angle of inclination of a label holder is controlled by the position of the cross bar relative to the end of the label support arm. By spacing the cross bar a predetermined distance inwardly from the end of the label support arm, the back panel of the label holder, upon downward rotation of the label holder about the cross bar, will contact the end of the label support arm, thereby limiting the downward rotation of the label holder such that it will come to rest in an upwardly inclined position. The degree of upward inclination of the at-rest label holder is a function of the distance by which the label support arm extends beyond the cross bar. In our prior designs this distance is fixed, therefore the at-rest angle is also fixed. The device of the invention includes an adaptor which mounts on either the cross bar element or on the label support arm, for pivotal support of a label holder at a variety of angles. In one form, the adaptor has cross bar engaging clips for snap-on frictional engagement with the existing cross bar of a merchandise display hook. The adaptor has a cross bar sized and shaped similar to the cross bar attached to the label support arm for pivotal support of the label holder. The distance between the cross bar of the adaptor and the forward end thereof advantageously is greater than the distance between the cross bar attached to the label supporting arm and the end extremity of the label support arm. Thus, when the adaptor is mounted on the cross bar of the label support arm, the label holder will be supported at an increased angle of upward inclination. As can be appreciated, the adaptor can be designed in various configurations to provide various (and possibly even decreased) at-rest viewing angles for the label holder, to enable optimum viewing of label holders mounted at various viewing heights. In an alternative form, the adaptor attaches to the label support arm, preferably extending rearwardly of the cross bar fixed thereto. The adaptor includes a gripping portion, for frictionally and slidably gripping the label support arm, and an abutment section which extends forwardly along the end extremity of the label support arm. The abutment section is sized such that it can be positioned to extend beyond the end extremity of the label support arm and contact the back panel of the label holder to increase the at-rest viewing angle. The extent by which the abutment section extends beyond the label support arm can be changed by sliding the adaptor inward or outward along the label support arm. Thus, the adaptor can provide an infinite number of at-rest viewing angles. It can be appreciated that the present invention provides significant efficiencies because previously existing and installed merchandise display hooks, having fixed at-rest viewing angles for the label holders, can be easily and inexpensively modified to provide different or even adjustable at-rest viewing angles. This enhances product displays by enabling the viewing angles to be adjusted according to the height of the hooks in relation to the height of an average viewer. For a more complete understanding of the above and other features and advantages of the invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention and to the accompanying drawings. Description of the Drawings Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one preferred embodiment of a merchandise display hook according to the invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary side elevational view, illustrating front portions of the display hook of Fig. 1, showing a label-holding device in a normal or rest position. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side elevational view, similar to Fig. 2, illustrating the label-holding device in an upwardly pivoted position. Fig. 4 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the device as shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a second preferred embodiment of the invention. Fig. 6 is a side elevational view of the merchandise display hook of Fig. 5, illustrating the sliding adaptor holding the label holder in an upwardly inclined position. Fig. 7 is an exploded front elevational view of the adaptor as shown in Fig. 6 mounting on a label support arm. Fig. 8 is an enlarged, perspective view, of the sliding adaptor depicted in Fig. 6. Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a second preferred embodiment of the adaptor. Fig. 10 is an exploded, side elevational view of the second embodiment of the adaptor of Fig. 9 illustrating the adaptor mounting on a cross bar. Fig. 11 is an assembled side elevational view of the device as shown in Fig. 10. Fig. 12 is an enlarged, fragmentary front elevational view of the label holder of Fig. 5, illustrating the label holder in an upwardly rotated position. Fig. 13 is a fragmentary side elevational view, illustrating the label-holding device in a normal or rest position. Fig. 14 is a fragmentary rear elevational view, along line 14-14 of Fig. 13. Fig. 15 is a top plan view of the label holding device according to the invention. Fig. 16 is a front elevational view of the label holding device of Fig. 15. Description of a Preferred Embodiment Referring now to the drawing, the reference numeral 10 designates a section of apertured panel board provided with a grid of openings 11. Conventionally, the openings 11 are provided over the entire surface of the panel 10 and are spaced uniformly, both horizontally and vertically. A merchandise display hook 12 is conventionally provided with mounting lugs (not shown) which are inserted through an adjacent pair of apertures 11 in the board 10 in order to support the merchandise hook 12 in the manner illustrated in Fig. 1, with operative portions of the display hook extending outward from the face of the panel board. In the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1- 4, the hook 12 includes a merchandise supporting element 13 in the form of a loop hook. The loop hook comprises outwardly extending parallel wire supports 14, 15, joined at the outer end by a U-shaped bend 16. L-shaped mounting lugs (not shown) are provided at the innermost end extremities of the wire sections 14, 15. A label supporting arm 17 extends above and generally parallel to the merchandise support 13, with the outer end portion 18 of the arm 17 positioned slightly beyond and slightly above the end extremity 16 of the merchandise supporting loop hook 12. At its inner end, the label support 17 has a downwardly extending leg 19 which is welded to a transverse cross bar 20. The cross bar 20 is in turn welded to the respective legs 14, 15 of the loop hook, as indicated at 21, 22. The lower end extremity 23 of the leg 19 projects below the level of the loop hook and is arranged to engage the front surface of the apertured panel 12, serving as a support to maintain the generally horizontal orientation of the merchandise support 12. In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs, l- 4, the outer end portion 18 of the label support 17 is bent downward at a substantial angle, preferably about 60° or so to the horizontal, and in preferred constructions at an angle less than 90°. A label supporting cross bar 24 is welded to the outer surface of the end portion 18, at a point spaced above and rearwardly of the outer end face 25 of the wire end section 18. As shown particularly in Figs. 1 and 4, the cross bar 24 is mounted symmetrically on the wire section 17, with end portions 26 thereof, extending laterally on each side. Whereas in accordance with prior knowledge, a label supporting cross bar element, such as the element 24, is welded directly to an end face of the straight wire section 17, it is a feature of the present invention that the cross bar is welded to an outer surface of the wire section 18. One of the advantages of this arrangement is that the welding procedure, which is typically electric resistance welding, is much simpler and more reliable, when welding the cross bar to the outer cylindrical surface of the wire, than when welding it to a flat end face of a wire. Significant manufacturing economies are realized through the easier and more reliable welding procedure, when welding to the outer cylindrical surface. Among other things, there is less wastage through failure to meet quality control standards, which are more difficult to achieve consistently when attempting to weld the cross bar to an end face of the wire. Mounted on the cross bar 24 is a plastic label holder, generally designated by the reference numeral 30. The label holder may in large part be of known design and construction. It is preferably of extruded or coextruded semi-rigid, plastic construction and comprises a flat back panel 31 joined along a bottom edge 32 with a clear front panel 33. The front and back panels 33, 31, and the bottom connection 32 are so arranged that the front panel tends to close elastically against the front face of the back panel 31. However, by pressing .rearwardly against the bottom portion 32, the upper lip 34 of the front panel can be sprung forward from the back panel 31 to accommodate the placement and retrieval of product information and pricing labels 35. Desirably, a forwardly projecting guard flange 36 is provided along the upper edge of the back panel 31, to normally overlie the upper edge 34 of the front panel. A hinge-forming flange 37 projects rearwardly from the upper edge of the back panel 31 and includes a U-shaped retaining clip portion 38 defining a forwardly facing U- shaped recess 39 of a size to receive the cross bar element 24. At its lower edge extremity 40, the U-shaped flange portion 38 is bent sharply downward and rearward, and supports an integral, downwardly divergent guide flange 41. The guide flange 41 is angled downwardly at about 45° with respect to the plane of the back panel 31 and extends for a sufficient distance to provide a relatively wide entrance 42 through which the guide bar 24 may be pressed when installing the label holder on the cross bar. Thus, by placing the guide flange 41 in contact with a cross bar 24 and pressing downward on the top of the retaining flange 37, the lower portion of the retaining flange will be cammed open by the guide flange 41. As soon as the cross bar 24 enters the chamber 39, the retaining flange 37 elastically closes to the position shown in Figs. 2 and 3, so that the label holder is reliably connected to the cross bar 24 while being free to pivot with respect thereto. As shown particularly in Fig. 2, the length of the downwardly directed outer end section 18 of the label support 17, the angle at which it is directed, and the distance the cross bar 24 is spaced from the end face 25, are all arranged such that, when a label holder is installed on the cross bar 24, the lower front edge 45 of the wire section 18 engages the back surface of the label holder back panel 31, to position the label holder by limiting the rearward pivoting movement thereof. Preferably, and as illustrated in Fig. 2, the forwardmost surface portions of the cross bar 24 lie slightly behind a vertical plane contacting the forward corner extremity 45 of the wire end section 18. The arrangement is such that the flat panels 31, 33 of the label holder tilt slightly upward with respect to vertical, to facilitate reading of the label holder by a customer. In the modified form of the invention shown in Fig. 5, the label support arm 117 is straight, and a cross bar element 24 is resistance welded to its upper surface, a short distance back from the front face 125 of the support arm. The arrangement is such that, when the label holder 30 is attached to the cross bar, the end surface 125 of the label support arm engages the back panel 31 of the label holder and serves to limit rearward tilting of the label holder in the desired manner. The described arrangement is particularly desirable, as compared to the conventional arrangement of mounting the cross bar 24 directly to the end face of a support wire 17. The conventional arrangement, in addition to resulting in increased difficulty and expense in the manufacturing stage, allows the label holder to swing to a rearwardly inclined position where, at least in the lower levels of the display rack, the labels can become difficult for customers to read. In this respect, it will be seen in Fig. 2, for example, that the pivot center of the label holder is located a short distance behind the back panel 31 such that the label holder, by the natural action of gravity, will tend to pivot to a slightly rearward orientation when freely supported on a pivot rod. With the device of the present invention, such tendency is counteracted by the projecting lower end of the wire end section 18, which serves as an abutment stop for limiting rearward pivoting motion of the label holder. Of course, the label holder can be freely pivoted in a forward direction, to accommodate loading and removal of product from the display hook. Referring to Figs. 6 and 7, the at-rest viewing angle of the label holder 30 can be altered with the addition of an adaptor 23 with a gripping portion 50 adapted to frictionally and slidably grip the label support arm 117. The adaptor 23 also has an abutment section 52 extending from the gripping portion 50, which abutment section is adapted to extend along the label support arm 117 and contact the back panel 31 of the label holder 30. The at-rest viewing angle of the label holder 30 can be adjusted by sliding the adaptor 23 along the label support arm 117 to adjust the distance by which the abutment section 52 extends beyond the cross bar 2 . To increase the at-rest viewing angle, the adaptor 23 is moved forward to extend the abutment section 52 a greater distance beyond the front face 125 of the label support arm 117. To decrease the at-rest viewing angle, the adaptor 23 is moved rearward. The effect of the adaptor 23 can be eliminated by moving the adaptor 23 to a position where the abutment section 52 does not extend beyond the front face 125 of the label support arm 117. Referring to Fig. 8, the adaptor 23 is preferably extruded in a generally U-shaped configuration. The gripping portion 50 preferably has outwardly-turned guide flanges 54 forming a relatively narrow entry gap 56 for facilitating snap-on mounting on the label support arm (not shown) . The abutment section 52 is preferably an integral extension of the gripping portion 50, with upper portions, including guide flange portions, removed to avoid contacting the cross bar 24. As shown, the abutment section 52 can have a semi-circular cross section such that, when the adaptor 23 is mounted, the abutment section 52 conforms to, and extends along, the underside of the label support arm (not shown) . Referring again to Fig. 6, the sliding adaptor 23 is preferably configured such that the gripping portion 50 mounts inwardly of the cross bar 24 and such that the gripping portion 52 can contact the cross bar 24 so as to prevent the adaptor 23 from sliding off of the label support arm 117. Thus, the adaptor 23 provides an infinite number of at-rest viewing angles for the label holder 30 between an upper and lower limit. The lower limit is determined by the relative positions of the cross bar and the end face 125 of the label support arm 117. The upper limit of the at-rest position provided by the adaptor 23 is determined by the distance by which the abutment section 52 can extend beyond the end face 125. Referring to Figs. 9-11, an alternative embodiment of the adaptor 123, which advantageously can be formed by injection molding, includes a cross bar engaging clip portions 58 for mounting on the cross bar 24 of the merchandise display hook 10. A body 60 extends forward from the clip portions 58 and supports an alternate cross bar 62 sized and shaped similar to the cross bar 24 mounted on the label support arm 117, for pivotal support of a label holder 30. The alternate cross bar 62 is preferably aligned in a horizontal plane with the cross bar 24 such that the adaptor 123 does not substantially change the vertical position of the label holder 30. The retaining clip portions 58 of the mounting adaptor 123 are adapted for tight frictional engagement with the cross bar 24 such that, when mounted, the adaptor 123 resists rotation about cross bar 24. In addition, the body 60 has a rear portion 64 adapted to abut the end face 125 of the end 18 of the label holder arm 117 to prevent downward rotation (clockwise in Figs. 6 and 7) of the adaptor 123. The alternate cross bar 62 is spaced inwardly from the front end 66 of the body 60, which front end 66 is adapted to contact the back panel 31 of the label holder 30 to maintain the label holder 30 in a predetermined upwardly inclined at-rest viewing angle. Preferably, the alternate cross bar 62 is spaced from the front end 66 of the body 60 a greater distance than that between the cross bar 24 and end face 125 of the label support arm 117 such that the mounting adaptor 123 serves to increase the at-rest viewing angle of the label holder 30. However, as can be appreciated, the adaptor 123 can be designed to decrease the at-rest viewing angle by altering the position of the alternate cross bar 62 relative to the front end 66. Also, the front end 66 of the body portion 60 can be formed with a surface parallel to the back panel 31 of the label holder 30 when in the at-rest position such that substantially the entire surface contacts the back panel 31 of the label holder 30. In any of its forms, the adaptor enables a merchandiser to customize its displays by positioning pivoted label holders at convenient viewing angles according to the elevation at which the display hooks are mounted. For hooks along the lower rows, well below the viewing height of a typical purchaser, the label holders may be supported at a greater upward inclination than for hooks mounted at higher levels. As shown in Figs. 1 and 4, the retaining flange portions 37, 38 and the guide flange 41 of the label holder 30 are slotted at 43, in the center of the label holder, so that inner side edges 44 of the slotted portion straddle the wire end section 18, and serve to maintain the label holder properly centered with respect to the label support arm 17. The slot 43 can have parallel sides and a constant width along its entire length as shown. However, this slot shape can cause problems when used with a merchandise display hook having a heavy gauge label support arm. More specifically, when used with a merchandise display hook having a label support arm with a diameter which is large relative to the thickness of the material forming the retaining clip portion 38. As is shown in Fig. 12, when the label holder 30 is rotated upward, the inner side edge 44 of the retaining clip portion 38 can enter the convergent gap 70 formed between the label support arm 117 and the cross bar 24. Then, upon downward rotation, the lower edge extremity 40 of the retaining clip portion 30 can contact the label support arm 117, for example at a point 72, thereby preventing further downward rotation of the label holder 30 and possibly necessitating manual correction. Referring to Figs. 13-16, an improved label holder 130 has a slot 143 which is generally of a dovetailed or tapered configuration such that the open end 74 is wider than an intermediate section 76 which can be the center of the slot. The generally tapered configuration of the slot 143 eliminates the sections of the lower edge extremity 140 of the retaining clip portion which could otherwise contact the label support arm 117 in an undesirable way. When the label holder 130 is rotated upwardly and displaced sideways, an edge of the retaining clip portion 138 can slide into the gap 170 between the label support arm 117 and the cross bar 24. However, upon downward rotation, the lower edge extremity 140 of the retaining clip portion 138, and specifically the end corners 78 of the slot 143, are prevented from contacting the label support arm 117 in a manner so as to cause the label holder 130 to be caught on or propped up by the label support arm 117. The distance by which an edge of the retaining clip portion 138 can enter or extend into the gap 170 is a function of the radius of the label support arm 117, the thickness of the material forming the retaining clip portions 138, and the distance by which the label support ar 117 is merged or indented into the cross bar 24 as a result of the welding operation. Specifically, the distance by which the retaining clip portion 138 can enter the gap 170 can be defined by the following formula: E = R - /R Z - (R-T-I) 2 ' Where: E is the distance by which the retaining clip portion 138 can extend into the gap 170 when the label holder 130 is in an upwardly pivoted position; R is the radius of the label support arm 117; T is the thickness of the material forming the retaining clip portion 138; and I is the distance by which the label support arm 117 merges or indents into the cross bar 24. The gap 170 is defined as the area between the outermost circumference 80 of the label support arm 117, the cross bar 24 and the point 82 where the label support arm 117 and the cross bar 24 join. Preferably, the open end 74 of the slot 143 is wider than the intermediate section 76 by twice the distance by which the retaining clip portion 138 can enter the gap 170 between the label support arm 117 and the cross bar 24. Specifically, the open end 74 is preferably wider than the intermediate section 76 by at least twice the distance E, as defined by the above formula. In this manner, the label holder 130 will avoid contacting the label support arm 117 irrespective of which way the label holder 130 is displaced. The generally tapered slot 143 of the label holder 130 can be formed by, for example cutting, the interior corners of the lower edge extremity of the retaining clip portion defining the open end of a previously formed straight slot (such as slot 43 of Figs, l and 4) . However, to advantage the tapered slot can be formed more efficiently by providing a tool 160 such as a punch having, as shown in cross section in Fig. 15, a triangular- or trapezoidal-shaped cross section (or another suitable shape) and by directing the tool 160 through a preferably contiguous (i.e., non-slotted) retaining clip portion 138 such that the least amount of material is removed from the retaining clip portion 138 at a point farthest from the back panel 131 of the label holder 130. This can be accomplished by aligning the tool 160 as shown, with the widest portion of the cross section closest to the back panel 131 of the label holder 130. As shown, the end extremity 140 of the retaining clip portion 138 can be closer to the back panel 131 than the intermediate section 76. With this configuration, the tool 60 can be directed through the contiguous retaining clip portion 138 in a direction parallel to the back panel 131 to achieve the desired slot shape. However, with another configuration (not shown) the lower edge extremity of the retaining clip portion and the intermediate portion thereof can be equidistant from the back panel. With this alternative configuration, a slot of the proper slot shape can be formed by forcibly urging the lower edge extremity closer to the back panel while the tool is directed substantially parallel to the back panel. The proper slot shape can also be achieved by directing the tool through the retaining clip portion at an angle with respect to the back panel such that a relatively wide section of the tool passes through the lower edge extremity and a relatively narrow section passes through the intermediate section. This method will produce, in one step, a slot 143 with a shape and cross section apparent in Figs. 13-15. Due to the arcuate nature of the retaining clip portion 138, the slot 143 will have an open end 54 which is wider than the intermediate portion 56, as described above. It should be understood, of course, that the specific form of the invention herein illustrated and described is, intended to be representative only. In this respect, the specific form of the merchandise display hook employing the new label-mounting feature may take any of a variety of forms. Likewise, the plastic label holder itself may be constructed in various ways consistent with the present invention. Accordingly, reference should be made to the following appended claims in determining the full scope of the invention.

Claims: We Claim: 1. A merchandise display hook with pivoting label holder, which comprises, (a) an outwardly extending label support arm, (b) means associated with an inner end of said label support arm for mounting said arm on a display panel, (c) a cross bar member fixed to an outer surface of said label support arm and extending transversely thereof for the support of a label holder, (d) a label holder mounted on said label support arm and having a label panel for retaining a product information label, (e) said label holder including a cross bar engaging clip portion extending rearwardly and downwardly with respect to said label panel and engaging said cross bar on opposite sides of said label support arm, (f) said cross bar engaging clip portion and said label holder being freely pivotally mountable on said cross bar to accommodate easy product removal from a position below said label support arm, and (g) a label holder positioning support carried by said label support arm and engageable with a back portion of said label panel to support said panel in an easily visible angular orientation and to prevent rearward pivoting movement of said label holder beyond said easily visible angular orientation while accommodating free pivoting movement of said label holder in a forward direction. 2. A merchandise display hook according to claim 1, wherein (a) said label support arm has a downwardly directed outer end section and an end face, (b) said cross bar member being fixed to said label support arm on an outer surface portion thereof closely adjacent to but spaced from said end face. 3. A merchandise display hook according to claim l, wherein (a) said label support arm has a generally straight outer end section and an end face, (b) said cross bar member being fixed to said label support arm on an outer surface portion thereof closely adjacent to but spaced from said end face. 4. A merchandise display hook according to claim 1, wherein (a) said label support arm and said cross bar member are formed of steel wire, and (b) said cross bar member is welded tangentially to the cross section of said label support arm, at a point spaced inward from said end face. 5. A merchandise display hook according to claim 1, wherein (a) said label holder comprises a back panel formed of semi-rigid, resiliently deflectable plastic material, and (b) said cross bar engaging clip portions each comprise an integral section of said semi-rigid plastic material extending first rearwardly from said back panel and then downwardly and then forwardly toward said back panel to form an enclosure for said cross bar member. (c) said clip portions further including integral, downwardly and rearwardly extending guide flanges for engaging said cross bar and, upon downward urging of said label holder, forcing said clip portions to open along the bottom to accept said cross bar member. 6. A merchandise display hook according to claim 5, wherein (a) said cross bar engaging clip portions extending the full width of said label holder except for a slot provided between them at the center of said label holder, (b) said slot being of a width slightly greater than the width of said label support arm, whereby to hold said label holder in a centered position while accommodating free upward pivoting movement of said label holder. 7. A merchandise display hook according to claim 1, further comprising a merchandise supporting arm arranged at an inner end thereof for mounting on said display panel and extending outwardly thereof below said label holding arm. 8. A merchandise display hook according to claim 7, wherein (a) said merchandise supporting arm and said label support arm being joined at their respective inner ends for mounting on said display panel. 9. A merchandise display hook according to claim 8, wherein said merchandise supporting arm and said label holder arm are permanently joined. 10. A merchandise display hook according to claim 1: (a) wherein said label holder, when mounted on said label support arm, is supported by said positioning support in a first angular orientation; and (b) further comprising means, removably mounted on said label support arm, to support said label holder in a second angular orientation, different than said first angular orientation. 11. A merchandise display hook according to claim 10, wherein said means to support said label holder in said second angular orientation further comprises an adaptor mounted on said label support arm, said adaptor having an abutment section adapted to contact said back panel of said label holder and adapted to support said label holder in said second angular orientation. 12. A merchandise display hook according to claim 11, wherein: (a) said adaptor further comprises a gripping portion adapted for frictional and slidable mounting on said label support arm; (b) said adaptor has a first position in which said abutment section extends forward of said label support arm a first distance, and a second position in which said abutment section extends forward of said label support arm a second distance, greater than the first; and (c) said adaptor is adjustably movable to positions between said first and second positions by sliding said adaptor along said label support arm. 13. A merchandise display hook according to claim 12, wherein said gripping portion is adapted to grip said label support arm rearwardly of said cross bar and is adapted to contact said cross bar to limit the forward movement of said adaptor. 14. A merchandise display hook according to claim 13, wherein: (a) said gripping portion of said adaptor is of substantially U-shaped configuration and comprises a pair of opposed, outwardly-turned mounting guide flanges defining an entry gap for mounting of said adaptor on said label support arm; and (b) said gripping portion is comprised of a resiliently deformable material to accommodate resilient snap-on mounting of said adaptor. 15. A merchandise display hook according to claim 14, wherein said abutment section further comprises a generally semi-circular cross-section and wherein said abutment section extends closely adjacent an underside of said label support arm. 16. A merchandise display hook according to claim 1, wherein: (a) said means to support said label holder in said second angular orientation further comprises an adaptor mounted on said cross bar of said label support arm; (b) said adaptor further comprising: (i) retaining clip portions adapted to engage said cross bar of said label support arm; and (ii) an alternate cross bar adapted to freely pivotally support said label holder; and (c) said adaptor supports said label holder in said second angular orientation. 17. A merchandise display hook according to claim 16, wherein said adaptor further comprises a forward end adjacent said alternate cross bar and wherein said forward end and said alternate cross bar are adapted to support said label holder in said second angular orientation. 18. A merchandise display hook according to claim 17, wherein: (a) said retaining clip portions of said adaptor frictionally engage said cross bar of said label support arm and are adapted to resist upward rotation of said adaptor about said cross bar of said label support arm; and (b) said adaptor further comprises a rearward end adapted to contact an end face portion of said label support arm and adapted to prevent downward rotation of said adaptor about said cross bar of said label support arm. 19. A merchandise display hook according to claim 18, wherein said alternate cross bar is located such that, when said adaptor is mounted to said label support arm, said alternate cross bar is aligned substantially horizontally with said cross bar of said label support arm such that said adaptor does not substantially alter the vertical orientation of said label holder. 20. A merchandise display hook according to claim 16, wherein said alternate cross bar and said forward end of said adaptor are configured such that said second angular orientation is greater than said first angular orientation. 21. A merchandise display hook according to claim 19, wherein said alternate cross bar is spaced from said forward end of said adaptor a distance greater than a corresponding distance between said end face of said label support arm and said cross bar thereof, thereby supporting said label holder in said second angular orientation. 22. A merchandise display hook according to claim 1, wherein: (a) said cross bar engaging clip portion has a slot sized to accommodate the label support arm, and sized to allow said free pivotal movement of said label holder; and (b) said slot has end corners defining an open end which is wider than an intermediate portion of said slot such that said end corners do not lockingly engage said label support arm during normal downward rotation of said label holder. 23. A merchandise display hook according to claim 22, wherein said cross bar engaging clip portion further comprises a hinge-forming flange projecting rearwardly from a back panel of the label holder, and a downwardly and forwardly-facing U-shaped recess sized and shaped to receive said cross bar element. 24. A merchandise display hook according to claim 22, wherein said open end is wider than said intermediate portion by a distance at least equal to approximately twice a distance E defined by Where: E is the distance by which said retaining clip portion can extend into a convergent gap between said cross bar and said label support arm when said label holder is in an upwardly pivoted position; R is a radius of said label support arm; T is a thickness of the material forming said retaining clip portion; and I is a distance by which said label support arm merges into said cross bar. 25. A method of manufacturing the merchandise hook of claim 22 comprising the steps of: (a) providing an outwardly-extending label support arm; (b) affixing a cross bar to an upper surface of an outer end of said label support arm; (c) providing a label holder with a retaining clip portion sized and shaped for free pivotal mounting on said cross bar; (d) forming a slot in said retaining clip portion sized to accommodate said label support arm during rotation of said label holder; (e) providing said slot with an open end which is wider than a center portion thereof such that end corners of said slot defining said open end do not contact said label support arm during normal rotation of said label holder. 26. The method according to claim 25, wherein said tapered slot-forming step further comprises directing a tool through said retaining clip portion in such a manner as to remove a lesser amount of material from said retaining clip portion at a point farthest from a back panel of said label holder. 27. The method according to claim 26, wherein (a) said retaining clip portion comprises a downwardly and forwardly-facing arcuate U-shaped portion, (b) said step of directing a tool through said retaining clip portion further comprises using a tool with a tapered cross section, (c) said cross section of said tool has a first width and a second width less than said first width; and (d) said tool is aligned such that said first width is closer to said back panel of said label holder than said second width, (e) whereby the tool, in conjunction with the arcuate nature of the retaining clip portion, forms a tapered slot having an open end which is wider than the center. 28. The method according to claim 27, wherein said cross section of said tool is at least partially triangular- or trapezoidal-shaped, and said tool is directed substantially parallel to said back panel. 29. The method according to claim 28, wherein said first width of said cross section is at least equal to approximately twice a distance E, defined by Where: E is the distance by which the retaining clip portion can extend into a convergent gap between said cross bar and said label support arm when the label holder is in an upwardly pivoted position; R is a radius of the label support arm; T is a thickness of the material forming the retaining clip portion; and I is the distance by which the label support arm merges or indents into the cross bar. 30. The method according to claim 28, wherein: (a) said lower edge extremity and said intermediate section are substantially equidistant from said back panel of said label holder; (b) said step of directing a tool through said retaining clip portion further comprises forcibly urging said lower edge extremity closer to said back panel than said intermediate section, and directing said tool in a direction substantially parallel to said back panel. 31. The method according to claim 28, wherein: (a) said lower edge extremity and said intermediate section are substantially equidistant from said back panel of said label holder; and (b) said tool is directed at an angle with respect to said back panel such that said first width of said tool passes through said lower edge extremity and such that said second width passes through said intermediate section. AMENDED CLAIMS [received by the International Bureau on 19 August 1997(19.08.97); original claim 1 amended;remaining claims unchanged (1 page)] 1. A merchandise display hook with pivoting label holder, which comprises, (a) an outwardly extending label support arm, (b) means associated with an inner end of said label support arm for mounting said arm on a support structure, (c) a cross bar member fixed to an outer surface of said label support arm and extending transversely thereof for the support of a label holder, (d) a label holder mounted on said label support arm and having a label panel for retaining a product information label, (e) said label holder including a cross bar engaging clip portion extending rearwardly and downwardly with respect to said label panel and engaging said cross bar on opposite sides of said label support arm, (f) said cross bar engaging clip portion and said label holder being freely pivotally mountable on said cross bar to accommodate easy product removal from a position below said label support arm, and (g) a label holder positioning support carried by said label support arm and engageable with a back portion of said label panel to support said panel in an easily visible angular orientation and to prevent rearward pivoting movement of said label holder beyond said easily visible angular orientation while accommodating free pivoting movement of said label holder in a forward direction. 2. A merchandise display hook according to claim 1, wherein (a) said label support arm has a downwardly directed outer end section and an end face, (b) said cross bar member being fixed to said label support arm on an outer surface portion thereof closely adjacent to but spaced from said end face.

Inventors: NAGEL THOMAS O, THALENFELD DAVID R, THALENFELD JOHN S, NAGEL, THOMAS, O., THALENFELD, DAVID, R., THALENFELD, JOHN, S.
Applicants: NAGEL THOMAS O, THALENFELD DAVID R, THALENFELD JOHN S, TRION IND INC, NAGEL, THOMAS, O., THALENFELD, DAVID, R., THALENFELD, JOHN, S., TRION INDUSTRIES, INC.
Application year: 1997
Main classification: A47F5
IPC codes: A47F5, G09F3