Abstract:
An integrally extruded price tag molding and front-end stop plate for use on a flat shelf or inclined gravity-feed shelf, wherein the height of the stop plate may be designed to safely keep contents of each dispensing track from falling onto the floor. The angle of the price tag molding may be designed to facilitate its viewing by the consumer. The mounting rail clamp portion of the unit may be designed to facilitate the installation of the unit onto the front rail of any shelf in the display. The upper and lower price tag channels may be designed in order to accept a variety of labelling media or advertising indicia.

Description:
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/806,418, filed Jun. 30, 2006, and is entitled to the benefit of the filing date of that provisional application for all subject matter commonly disclosed therein. 
     
     FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0002]    This disclosure relates to controlled display of retail merchandise, such as gravity-feed shelving, and more specifically, to an integrally extruded price tag molding and front-end stop plate for use along a front edge of a shelf of a retail display shelving unit. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0003]    In order to increase inventory turnover and maximize efficient use of shelf space, retailers frequently utilize gravity-feed shelving systems, wherein inclined shelves are used to stock merchandise. In such shelf systems, consumers are presented with an array of merchandise (food, drinks, sundries, etc.) arranged in one or more parallel tracks on each shelf, generally with only the front-most (“first-in” or “first-up”) unit of merchandise in each individual track being easily accessible, i.e. so-called “first-in-first-out” (or “FIFO”) product merchandising. Upon removing this front-most unit of merchandise, the remaining units of like-merchandise in that given track advance, i.e. slide down, toward the front of the shelf, so that the next-successive unit in line becomes the new front-most unit in that track. 
         [0004]    As each unit of merchandise slides forward to the front of its respective track, it must be stopped from spilling onto the floor of a retail establishment. In order to stop the merchandise, it is common to provide a physical barrier along a front edge of the shelf. One such physical barrier is known as a front-end stop plate. While it has been known to provide price tag moldings with slots to receive front-end stop plates, such constructions have several shortcomings. For instance, the slots in which the front-end stop plates are received can be difficult to clean. Once a stop plate has been removed from an associated slot along a price tag molding for cleaning of the slots, it can be difficult to reinstall the front-end stop plate. The manner in which these and other shortcomings are overcome will be explained in the following Summary and Detailed Description sections of the present disclosure. 
       SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0005]    The present disclosure includes a price tag molding and a front-end stop plate formed together into an integral, one-piece unit. This integral unit can be installed onto a rail that spans the front of a shelf in a typical merchandise display case. The unit can be used not only to stop merchandise from advancing further than the front of each track, but also to display price tag(s) or other printed information to be associated with the merchandise on the track. 
         [0006]    Advantageously, a price tag receiving channel at the forward leading edge of the price tag molding can receive labelling indicia therein, such as product names, flavors, ingredients, can/bottle/jar sizes, product weight, bar codes, and prices, at positions associated with, i.e. immediately forward and below, each track member of the shelf for the visual benefit of consumers and stock keeping personnel. This price tag channel could also be used to secure various types of product advertising or suspended consumer inducements (e.g. shelf talkers, coupon dispensers, blinking red lights, or the like). Depending on the display need, the shape of this price tag channel can be designed for what it must secure, and the angle at which this channel is directed toward the consumer can be determined during the design and manufacturing of the device. For example, the angle of incline may vary, to facilitate consumer viewing of indicia on lower versus higher shelves. 
         [0007]    Preferably, the front rail of each shelf on a display unit will accept a price tag molding having a first channel that is generally U-shaped in cross-section and also having a stop plate in a position generally perpendicular to the plane of the inclined shelf. The front-end stop plate and price tag molding may be integrally extruded, preferably out of ABS plastic, and may be substantially clear at close distances. Clearer material for the stop plate reduces the visual impediment to the consumer, although translucency of the stop plate should not reduce its functionality, as long as the item displayed is not obscured from view. Because of the raised height of the rear rail and the angle of incline of the shelf, a stop plate at the rear of the shelf is generally not necessary to prevent the rear-most item on the shelf from being pushed backwards off of the shelf, for example, if the shelves are front-loaded. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a combination price tag molding and front-end stop, partially cut away, of the present disclosure; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a rear perspective view of the combination price tag molding and front-end stop shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a side view of the combination price tag molding and front-end stop shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is an environmental front perspective view of multiple combination price tag moldings and front-end stops installed onto rails of a typical multiple-shelf display unit; 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is a front perspective view of a second embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  is a rear perspective view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 5 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  is a side view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 5 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 8  is a front perspective view of a third embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0016]      FIG. 9  is a rear perspective view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 8 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 10  is a side view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 8 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 11  is a front perspective view of a fourth embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0019]      FIG. 12  is a rear perspective view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 11 ; and 
           [0020]      FIG. 13  is a side view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 13 . 
       
    
    
       [0021]    It will be understood that the drawings are not to scale and that, in some instances, details which are not necessary for an understanding of the disclosed embodiments or which render other details difficult to perceive, may have been omitted. It should also be understood that this disclosure is not limited to the embodiments specifically illustrated in the drawings. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0022]    Having reference to the drawings, where like reference numbers comprise like elements, there is shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  an integrally extruded price tag molding and front-end stop plate for gravity-feed shelving, generally denoted by reference numeral  110 . The combination price tag molding-stop plate  110  includes a stop plate  112 , which, in this embodiment, may include a top  114 . 
         [0023]    Each stop plate  112  is integrally connected to a price tag molding portion  122  just above an upper mounting rail clamp  124 , which extends downwardly in a straight manner as a short extension of the stop plate  112 . The manufactured height “h” of the stop plate  112  may be varied by the manufacturer in order to optimally stabilize any dispensed product. For example, gallon-sized glass milk bottles may need stop plates as high as about nine inches tall; whereas, relatively small containers, or containers having a lower center of gravity, may only need stop plates sized at about two inches tail. 
         [0024]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , the upper mounting rail clamp  124  cooperates with a lower mounting rail lower clip  126  to form a mounting rail channel  130 . The upper mounting rail clamp  124  and the lower mounting rail clip  126  are in a plane that is generally parallel to, and offset from, a plane defined by the stop plate  112 . The resiliency of the lower mounting rail clip  126  allows for the mounting rail channel  130  to be placed over a generally L-shaped (in cross-section) angle iron-type mounting rail  125  (shown in broken lines), thus surrounding it. The resiliency of the lower mounting rail clip  126  will also provide the clamping force necessary to secure the price tag molding-stop plate  110  to the mounting rail  125  upon installation. 
         [0025]    As shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , and  3 , a connector ledge  116  is formed where the stop plate  112  joins the price tag molding portion  122 . This connector ledge  116  has a manufactured bend to its bottom creating a trough-like indentation along the midsection its entire length. An upper overhang  118  is provided along the leading edge of the connector ledge  116 . The upper overhang  118  defines an upper price tag receiving channel  132 . Along the lower edge of the price tag molding  122 , a lower overhang  120  is provided, which defines a lower price tag receiving channel  134 . It is the combination of the upper price tag channel  132  and the lower price tag channel  134  which forms a price tag receiving channel or slot that may accept a price tag, or other labelling/advertising/identifying indicia, typically slid into place from a side. 
         [0026]    It is the bend of the connector ledge  116  which determines the final angle Θ (see  FIG. 3 ) at which the price tag molding  122  is disposed relative to the stop plate  112 . The angle Θ can be designed and manufactured to maximize the visual effectiveness of the display for the consumer. Preferably, the angle Θ varies inversely with the height of an associated shelf to which the price tag molding—front end stop assembly is mounted. For example, price tag molding/stop plates used on the very bottom of display cases may need to have larger Θ angles in order for the average consumer to look downward and more easily see the label affixed thereon. Price tag molding-stop plates  110  installed at a height closer to consumer may need to have smaller Θ angles for easy viewing. Such Θ angles thus, can vary between approximately 0 and approximately 90 degrees. More preferably, the Θ angle will vary in the range between 30 and 60 degrees. Thus, the upper price tag channel  132  and lower price tag channel  134 , together with the angle Θ, serve as a non-adhesive means for retaining indicia at an angle Θ relative to the stop plate  112 . 
         [0027]      FIG. 4  shows how typical combination price tag moldings/stop plates  110  of the present disclosure may be installed on the front rail of each shelf of a multi-shelf gravity-feed display unit  136 . More particularly, it can be noted that the front-end stop plate  110  portion of the disclosure is of a sufficient height as to prevent the gravity-fed glass milk bottles from falling forward onto the floor of the establishment. Also, it is noted that the top price tag molding  122  displayed has a small Θ angle (angle between the price tag molding face and the front-end stop plate) designated here by Θ′; whereas, the bottom price tag molding  122  displayed has a much larger Θ angle, designated here by Θ″, approaching 45 degrees, for example. In this bottom-shelf application, a larger Θ angle may better serve the viewing needs of the retail customer. 
         [0028]      FIGS. 5 ,  6  and  7  show another embodiment of a price tag molding-stop plate  210  of the present disclosure, which may be used to attach to a pair of wire rod-type mounting rails  225 ,  227  of circular cross-section (as distinct from attaching to the generally L-shaped, angle iron-type mounting rail  125  of the previous embodiment of  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  3 ). A mounting rail channel  230  (see  FIG. 7 ), created where an upper mounting rail clamp  224  joins a ledge  216  and an upper portion of a price tag molding  222  tightly surrounds and secures to an upper mounting rail  225 . Similarly, a lower mounting rail clip  226  is provided to surround and be secured to a lower parallel, but offset, mounting rail  227 . The curvature of the lower mounting rail clip  226  contributes to the necessary resiliency to facilitate surrounding the lower mounting rail  227  and securing the price tag molding-stop plate  210  to the pair of mounting rails  225 ,  227   
         [0029]      FIGS. 8 ,  9 , and  10  show another embodiment of a price tag molding-stop plate  310  designed to attach to a mounting rail  325  in a similar fashion to the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  3 . This embodiment, however, employs a different non-adhesive means for retaining indicia at an angle relative to the stop plate. As best seen in  FIG. 10 , a price tag molding  322  may be constructed with a front face member  321  and a rear face member  323  that are joined together by a bend  327  along an elongate edge of each of the front face member  321  and the rear face member  323 , such as at their bottoms, with the front face member  321  overlying the rear face member  323 . This combination produces an insertion slot  329  which may allow the aforementioned indicia to be slid into place from a side or from the top. As a result of the tight bend  327 , the front face member  321  and rear face member  323  are biased toward one another, and thereby clamp indicia inserted therebetween. This feature allows for the use of indicia of varying thicknesses. In  FIG. 10 , the front face member  321  is also shown in phantom in a bent-out position, allowing for easy insertion of indicia. 
         [0030]      FIGS. 11 ,  12  and  13  show another embodiment of a price tag molding-stop plate  410  designed to attach to a pair of mounting rails  425 ,  427  of a shelf assembly  435  (as distinct from attaching to the mounting rail  125  of the previous embodiment of  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  3 , and similar to the two mounting rail-type shelf shown in  FIGS. 5-7 ). 
         [0031]    A mounting rail channel  430  (see  FIG. 13 ), created where a mounting rail clamp  424  joins a ledge  416  and an upper portion of a price tag molding  422 , tightly surrounds and attaches to an upper mounting rail  425 . Similarly, a lower mounting rail clip  426  is provided to surround a lower mounting rail  427 . The curvature of the lower mounting rail clip  426  provides the necessary resiliency to surround the lower mounting rail  427  and secure to it and to abut the underside of the shelf assembly  435 . 
         [0032]    A method of attaching the price tag molding/stop plate  410  to the mounting rails  425 ,  427  of the shelf assembly  435  is completed as follows. While facing the front of the shelf assembly  435 , an installer holds the price tag molding-stop plate  410  upright and then tips it backwards, placing the upper mounting rail channel  430  over the upper mounting rail  425 . The installer then rotates the price tag molding-stop plate  410  downward (as indicated by the curved arrow  436 ) until the lower mounting rail clip  426  abuts the underside of the shelf assembly  435 , thus securing it in place. Removal of the price tag molding-stop plate  410  would be accomplished by reversing the aforementioned rotation. 
         [0033]    The price tag molding  422  is similar to that of the previous embodiment, with a front face member  421  and a rear face member  423  that are joined together by a bend  438  along an elongate edge of each of the front face member  421  and the rear face member  423 , such as at their bottoms, with the front face member  421  overlying the rear face member  423 . This combination produces an insertion slot  429  which may allow the aforementioned indicia to be slid into place from a side or from the top. 
         [0034]    In each of the embodiments disclosed herein, once the mounting rail channel has been mounted to the at least one mounting rail presented by an associated shelf, the stop plate is positioned at a substantially right angle to the associated shelf. 
         [0035]    While various embodiments have been described, the scope of the appended claims is not intended to be limited thereto. Variations to the disclosed embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the following claims.