Abstract:
A digital price indicator is provided. In the digital price indicator, a display body is disposed on a front side of a fence installed on a shelf, a battery is disposed on a back side of the fence and supplies power to the display body, and a connection unit is installed at the display body and the battery to connect power between the display body and the battery and secure the display body and the battery to the fence. Accordingly, the display body can have a slim profile, an improvement in design and ease of battery change can be achieved, and battery capacity can be extended.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119 of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2010-0030089, filed on Apr. 1, 2010, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The present disclosure relates to a digital price indicator capable of displaying prices, specifications of products, and the like in real time. 
     Of late, retailers such as department stores or warehouse chains have displayed a large amount of products on shelves according to the development of distribution and logistics industry. Price indicators for displaying prices and information regarding products being displayed are mounted on the shelves. 
     A price indicator includes a plate fixed to a shelf, and a display panel detachably mounted on the plate and having a display region allowing for the display of a unit cost, a place of production, characteristics, promotional phrases, and the like. However, in most cases, a price indicator according to the related art has a plate fixed in location, which makes it very inconvenient for a clerk to change the location of the display panel. 
     Since the display panel of the price indicator according to the related art has a detachable structure, a customer may accidentally remove the display panel from the plate and lose it. 
     Furthermore, according to the related art price indicator, in order to manufacture display panels expressing various shapes, colors and characters in a single model, the display panels need to be manufactured differently for each product being displayed. This may bring about an extreme waste of materials since display panels need to be discarded in the case where there is a price change or a product is out of stock and no longer for sale. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY 
     Embodiments provide a digital price indicator capable of displaying a product price and information regarding a product in real time to thereby provide ease of use and facilitate an inventory count and a sales estimation. 
     Embodiments also provide a digital price indicator having a display body and a battery provided separately from each other to thereby achieve slimness of the display body, and an improved exterior design. 
     Embodiments also provide a digital price indicator having a display body and a battery provided separately from each other to thereby achieve ease of battery change and allow for the extension of battery capacity. 
     Additional advantages, objects, and features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and in part will become apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following. 
     In one embodiment, a digital price indicator includes: a display body disposed on a front side of a fence installed on a shelf; a battery disposed on a back side of the fence and supplying power to the display body; and a connection unit installed at the display body and the battery, connecting power between the display body and the battery, and securing the display body and the battery to the fence. 
     The connection unit may include: a locking hook on a back side of the display body, the locking hook penetrating the fixing hole in the fence and in which a first power connection terminal is disposed; and a locking member on a front side of the battery, the locking member catching the locking hook therein and in which a second power connection terminal is disposed. 
     The connection unit may include: a first fixing member on a back side of the display body, the first fixing member being disposed on an outer circumferential surface of a first power connection terminal, penetrating the fixing hole in the fence, and having a male threaded part around an outer circumferential surface thereof; a second fixing member on a front side of the battery, the second fixing member in which a second power connection terminal is disposed; and a fixing ring securing the first fixing member and the second fixing member to each other. 
     In another embodiment, a display device for a digital price indicator, includes: a case fixed to a fence; a display module installed on a front side of the case and outputting images associated with a price, specifications and an advertisement of a product on a shelf while switching the images; a communication module installed in the case and communicating with a server via a wired or wireless network; and a micro processor unit installed in the case and controlling screen output of the display module and communication of the communication module. 
     The digital price indicator according to the present disclosure includes a display body disposed on the front side of a fence, a battery disposed on the back side of the fence, and a connection unit serving to secure the display body and the battery to the fence while connecting power therebetween. Accordingly, the display body can have a slim profile, ease of battery change can be achieved, and battery capacity can be extended. 
     The details of one or more embodiments are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of a digital price indicator according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a front view of a display body according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of a connection unit according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of a connection unit according to another embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of the present disclosure, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 
     Hereinafter, a digital price indicator according to an embodiment will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in detail. 
       FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view illustrating a digital price indicator according to an embodiment. Referring to  FIG. 1 , a digital price indicator according to an embodiment includes a display body  10  fixed to a shelf  100  and displaying a product price, information regarding a product, and the like, and a battery  20  fixed to the shelf  100  and supplying power to the display body  10 . 
     The display body  10  and the battery  20  are provided with a connection unit for fixing the display body  10  and the battery  20  to the shelf  100  while connecting power between the display body  10  and the battery  20 . As will be described later, the connection unit includes locking hooks  50  and locking members  60 . 
     The shelf  100  is provided with a fence  120  having fixing holes  110  each with a diameter of 1 to fix the display body  10  and the battery  20 . The fixing holes  110  are formed in a longitudinal direction of the fence  120  at regular intervals. 
     The fixing holes  110  may be provided in the form of a circular hole, a long hole, or a slit having a predetermined width and elongated in the longitudinal direction of the fence  120 . 
     The fence  120  is installed along the edge of the shelf  100  where products are displayed. The fence  120  serves as a partition wall preventing products from falling from the shelf  100  while serving as a support for mounting the digital price indicator. 
     The display body  10  is installed on the front side of the fence  120 , and receives information regarding a product on the shelf  100 , such as a price, specifications and advertising image thereof, from a server via a wired/wireless network. 
     The display body  10  may be additionally provided with a small-sized webcam, a sensor and the like connected to the server via a wired or wireless network, so that the inventory of products or the location of a desired product can be easily checked. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the display body  10  may include a case  12 , a display module  14  installed on the front side of the case  12  and displaying information, a communication module  16 , a micro processor unit  18 , and operation buttons  22 . 
     The display module  14  is installed in the case  12 . The display module  14  provides a screen for outputting images associated with a price, specifications and advertisement of a product on the shelf  100  while switching the images. 
     The communication module  16  is installed in the case  12 . The communication module  16  receives information regarding the price and specifications of the product on the shelf  100 , information regarding advertising images thereof, and the like from a server through wired or wireless network communications, and transmits the same to the display module  14 . 
     The micro processor unit  18  is also installed in the case  12 . The micro processor unit  18  controls a screen output process of the display module  14  and a communication process of the communication module  16 , and performs a series of calculation according to the transmission and reception of an amount of information being processed in the screen output process and the communication process. 
     Such a display body  10  does not have a battery therein, which accordingly leads to a reduction in volume of the display body  10 . In this a manner, the display body  10  can be slimmed down. 
     In more detail, considering that a display body protrudes forwardly from a fence, a display body having a large thickness may deteriorate the quality of appearance or come into contact with shoppers. However, according to this embodiment, the display body  10  can have a minimized thickness, thereby ensuring improved quality of appearance and preventing contact with people or another product. 
     The battery  20  is installed on the back side of the fence  120  to supply power to the display body  10 . Here, the battery  20  includes a battery case  26 , and a battery body  24  disposed inside the battery case  26 . 
     The battery  20  is provided separately from the display body  10 . This allows for an increase in the capacity of the battery  20 , thereby ensuring long useful life of the battery. Furthermore, since only the battery is detached to change the battery, ease of battery change can be achieved. 
       FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional illustrating how the display body  10 , the battery  20  and the shelf  100  are assembled. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , the connection unit, according to an embodiment, includes the locking hook  50  formed on the back side of the display body  10  and penetrating the fixing hole  120  formed in the fence  120 , and the locking member  60  formed on the front side of the battery  20  and caught in the locking hook  50 . 
     A first power connection terminal  40  protrudes from the back side of the display body  10 . Also, the locking hook  50  is disposed around the outer circumferential surfaces of the first power connection terminals  40 , respectively. 
     The locking hook  50  includes two or more ribs  52  separately disposed along the outer circumferential surface of the first power connection terminal  40  at regular intervals, and a hook part  54  extending outwardly from an end portion of each of the ribs  52 . 
     The ribs  52  have their own elasticity so that the hook parts  54  remain caught in the locking member  60 . 
     The first power connection terminal  40  has a cylindrical shape. As first power connection terminals  40 , positive (+) and negative (−) terminals may be disposed at a predetermined interval therebetween. Referring to  FIG. 1 , four first power terminals  40  are illustrated, and each of the four first power terminals  40  and an adjacent one thereto may be paired up and connected to a positive (+) terminal and a negative (−) terminal of the battery body  24 , respectively. 
     The locking member  60  is formed on the front side of the battery case  26  in the form of a cylinder, and has two or more locking holes  62  arranged at regular intervals in a circumferential direction thereof. The locking hooks  50  are caught in the locking holes  62 , respectively. The front side of the locking member  60  comes into contact with the back side of the fence  120 . 
     A second power connection terminal  42 , connected to the battery body  24 , is disposed inside the locking member  60  to be linearly movable. To prevent the second power connection terminal  42  from being separated from the locking member  60 , a stopping projection  64  protrudes inwardly of the locking member  60  at an upper end portion of the locking member  60 . 
     The second power connection terminal  42  has a top surface projecting outwardly from the locking member  60  so as to come into contact with the first power connection terminal  40 . Also, a bottom surface of the second power connection terminal  42  has a stopping part  44  caught by the stopping projection  64 . 
     Also, an elastic member  66  giving elasticity to the second power connection terminal  42  is disposed inside the locking member  60 . The elastic member  66  is configured as a coil spring to elastically support the second power connection terminal  42  and thus enhance a contact force between the second power connection terminal  42  and the first power connection terminal  40 . 
     In the above disclosure, the first power connection terminal  40  and the second power connection terminal  42  are disposed inside the locking hook  50  and the locking member  60 , respectively. However, a structure where the first power connection terminal  40  and the second power connection terminal  42  are disposed separately from the locking hook  50  and the locking member  60  is also available. 
     As for the operation of the connection unit configured as above, as the display body  10  is disposed on the front side of the fence  120 , the locking hooks  50  pass through the fixing holes  110  in the fence  120 , respectively. Meanwhile, as the battery  20  is disposed on the back side of the fence  110 , the hook parts  54  of the locking hooks  50  are inserted into the corresponding locking holes  62  of the locking members  60  and caught therein. 
     At this time, each locking hook  50  remains caught in the locking holes  62  due to the elasticity of the ribs  52  of the locking hook  50 . 
     Also, the first power connection terminal  40  in the locking hook  50  and the second power connection terminal  42  in the locking member  60  come into contact with each other, thereby electrically connecting the battery  20  with the display body  10 . In this case, since the second power connection terminal  42  is elastically supported by the elastic member  66 , the second power connection terminal  42  can maintain its contact with the first power connection terminal  40 . 
       FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of a connection unit according to another embodiment. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , a connection unit according to another embodiment includes a first fixing member  70 , a second fixing member  80 , and a fixing ring  84 . The first fixing member  70  is provided on the back side of the display body  10 , disposed on the outer circumferential surface of the first power connection terminal  40 , and has a male threaded part  72  around its outer circumferential surface. The second fixing member  80  has a stopping projection  82  around its outer circumferential surface, and the second power connection terminal  42  is disposed inside the second fixing member  80  to be linearly movable. The fixing ring  84  is caught by the stopping projection  82  of the second fixing member  80 , and is threadedly engaged with the male threaded part  72  of the first fixing member  70 . 
     A detachment prevention protrusion  88  is provided on the top of the second fixing member  80  in order to prevent the second power connection terminal  42  from being separated. The elastic member  66  is disposed inside the second fixing member  80  in order to give elasticity to the second power connection terminal  42 . 
     The fixing ring  84  has a stopping part  76  at its one end, and a female threaded part  86  at the other end portion in the inner circumferential surface of the fixing ring  84 . The stopping part  76  protrudes inwardly of the fixing ring  84  to be caught by the stopping projection  82 , and the female threaded part  86  is threadedly engaged with the male threaded part  72  of the first fixing member  70 . 
     In the above disclosure, the first power connection terminal  40  and the second power connection terminal  42  are described as being disposed inside the first fixing member  70  and the second fixing member  80 . However, a structure where the first power connection terminal  40  and the second power connection terminal  42  are disposed separately from the first fixing member  70  and the second fixing member  80  is also available. 
     As for a connection process of the connection unit according to another embodiment, the first fixing member  70  on the back side of the display body  10  penetrates the fixing hole  110  in the fence  120 . Also, the second fixing member  80  on the front side of the battery  20  is disposed to face the first fixing member  70 . Thereafter, the fixing ring  84  is fastened to engage the female threaded part  86  of the fixing ring  84  with the male threaded part  72  of the first fixing member  70 . In such a manner, the first fixing member  70  is secured to the second fixing member  80 . 
     In this case, the first power connection terminal  40  and the second power connection terminal  42  come into contact with each other, and thus the power is connected between the battery  20  and the display body  10 . The second power connection terminal  42 , elastically supported by the elastic member  66 , enhances a contact force between two terminals. 
     As set forth herein, according to embodiments, the display body and the battery are configured to be individually fixed to the fence. Since the display body does not have a battery therein, a significant reduction in the thickness of the display body can be achieved. 
     Furthermore, since the battery is separable from the display body and thus does not require a size reduction, the capacity of the battery can be increased and a useful life thereof can be extended accordingly. 
     Although embodiments have been described with reference to a number of illustrative embodiments thereof, it should be understood that numerous other modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled in the art that will fall within the spirit and scope of the principles of this disclosure. More particularly, various variations and modifications are possible in the component parts and/or arrangements of the subject combination arrangement within the scope of the disclosure, the drawings and the appended claims. In addition to variations and modifications in the component parts and/or arrangements, alternative uses will also be apparent to those skilled in the art.