Abstract:
A single panel label holder for a product display supports a label for display to shoppers. The single panel traps the label against an adjacent surface of a corresponding shelf. The label holder can include a clip member for securing the label holder to the shelf.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    The present disclosure pertains to label holders for displaying information-containing labels or signs and, more particularly, holders which are cost effective and convenient to manufacture. 
         [0002]    Clip-on label holders are known in the art. The general principle by which label holders are attached to an associated merchandise display shelf involves clipping and engaging the label holder around the forward end of the display shelf. The clipping motion involves the deflection of an elastic yet resilient material. During installation, the material of the label holder elastically deforms to allow engagement of the label holder with the shelf. Subsequently, the material relaxes and contacts the shelf in multiple locations. The degree and security of attachment depends on the amount of pressure exerted by the material of the label holder against the corresponding portion of the shelf. 
         [0003]    Various clip-on label holders are currently on the market for displaying labels to a consumer. Typical label holders commonly include a main body or backing panel and a hingedly attached transparent cover. These together define a pocket between them for receipt of a non-adhesive label. A clip portion of the label holder attaches to a lip or other surface of the shelf such that the pocket is positioned on a front face of the shelf. While such label holders are sufficient for many applications, the provision of a pocket for receiving the label requires two opposing panels (the main body and the transparent cover) which can complicate manufacturing and uses more material, thus increasing costs and weight. It would be advantageous to provide a label holder which uses less material and is consequently less expensive as well as weighing less. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0004]    A label holder according to the present disclosure supports a label for display with single panel by trapping the label against a surface of a corresponding shelf, thus significantly reducing the amount of material needed for the label holder as compared to prior art label holders which include a pocket for receiving the label. The label holder can thus be simpler to manufacture and will likely cost less to produce than prior art label holders. 
         [0005]    According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, a retail display assembly comprises a shelf having a top panel, a front panel extending from the top panel, and a return flange extending from the front panel, and a label holder. The label holder includes a cover panel having a front surface, a back surface, an upper end and a lower end, a clip member extending rearwardly away from the cover panel, and a hinge connecting the lower end of the cover panel to the clip member. The label holder is selectively mountable to the shelf via the clip member. When mounted to the shelf, the back surface of the cover panel and the front surface of the shelf are configured to trap an associated item therebetween. 
         [0006]    The associated item can include a label trapped between the back surface of the cover panel and the front surface of the shelf. At least a portion of the cover panel can be transparent for viewing the associated item. The cover portion can be moveable between a first position wherein the back surface is engaged with the front surface of the shelf, to a second position wherein the back surface is spaced apart from the front surface of the shelf. A distal edge of the cover portion opposite the hinge can include a bead for grasping by a user when moving the cover portion between the first and second positions. The hinge can be adapted to bias the cover portion towards the front surface of the shelf. The cover panel can be adapted to engage the front surface of the shelf along a major portion of a length of the cover panel extending between the upper and lower ends thereof. The clip member can include a pair of opposing jaws opening towards the hinge and configured to engage opposing sides of the return flange, the opposing jaws being biased towards each other to secure the label holder to the shelf. 
         [0007]    According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a label holder comprises a cover panel having a front surface, a back surface, an upper end and a lower end, a clip member extending rearwardly away from the cover panel near the lower end thereof, and a hinge connecting the lower end of the cover panel to the clip member. The label holder can be selectively mounted to an associated shelf via the clip member for trapping an associated label between the rear surface of the cover panel and a corresponding surface of the associated shelf. 
         [0008]    A portion of the cover panel can be transparent for viewing the associated label therethrough. The cover panel can be moveable between a first position for holding an associated label, and a second position for loading an associated label. The cover panel can be resiliently biased towards the first position. A distal edge of the cover panel opposite the hinge can include a bead for grasping by a user when moving the cover portion between the first and second positions. The hinge can be adapted to bias the cover portion towards a front surface of shelf when installed thereon. The clip member can include a pair of opposing jaws opening towards the hinge and configured to engage opposing sides of a flange of the associated shelf, the opposing jaws being biased towards each other to secure the label holder to the associated shelf. The cover panel can be resiliently biased towards the first position. The hinge can be adapted to bias the cover portion towards a front surface of shelf when installed thereon. A thickness of the cover panel can be less than a thickness of the clip portion. The thickness of the cover panel can be generally constant from the upper end to the lower end. 
         [0009]    Other features and advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following more detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate by way of example several embodiments of the presently described apparatus and its method of use. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    The disclosure may take form in certain structures and components, several embodiments of which will be described in detail in this specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  is an end elevational view of an exemplary display assembly including a label holder in accordance with the present disclosure; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is an enlarged end elevational view of the label holder of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is an end elevational view of another exemplary label holder in accordance with the present disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0014]    Referring now to the drawings, wherein the showings illustrate exemplary embodiments of the disclosure only and are not intended to limit same,  FIG. 1  shows an exemplary retail display assembly in accordance with the present disclosure and identified generally by reference numeral  10 . The retail display assembly  10  generally comprises a shelf  12  and a label holder  14  attached thereto. The shelf  12  generally includes a top panel  16 , a front panel  18  extending from the top panel  16  and a return flange  20  extending from the front panel  18 . The shelf  12  is exemplary in nature and it will be appreciated that a wide variety of shelf designs and configurations can be used in accordance with the present disclosure. The illustrated exemplary shelf  12  has a generally sloped front panel  18  extending in an angle downwardly from the top panel  16 , and the return flange  20  extends rearwardly from the front panel  18  in a direction generally parallel to the top panel  16 . Such a shelf  12  is sometimes referred to as a no-tag shelf. Such no-tag shelves generally do not include a channel on the front face for display of pricing information or other product related information. Thus, the label holder  14  is provided for supporting a label adjacent the front panel  18  of the shelf  12  for displaying information to a consumer. 
         [0015]    With further reference to  FIG. 2 , the label holder  14  generally includes a cover panel  24  having a front surface  26 , a back or rear surface  28 , an upper end  30  and a lower end  32 . The label holder  14  includes a clip member portion  36  extending rearwardly away from the back surface  28  of the cover panel  24 , and a hinge  40  connecting lower end  32  of the cover panel  24  to the clip member portion  36 . As will be appreciated, the cross-sectional profile of the label holder  14  in the illustrated exemplary embodiment is similar to the cross-sectional profile of the front panel  18  of the shelf  12  and return flange  20  of the shelf  12 . In this regard, when installed on the shelf  12 , the cover panel  24  of the label holder  14  is configured to closely engage the front panel  18  of the shelf  12  such that a label containing product information can be trapped between the back surface  28  of the cover panel  24  and the front panel  18  of the shelf  12 . 
         [0016]    To secure the label holder  14  to the shelf  12 , the clip member portion  36  includes a pair of opposing spaced-apart jaws, upper jaw  44  and lower jaw  46 , that cooperate to engage opposite surfaces of the return flange  20  of the shelf  12  as seen in  FIG. 1 . The space S between the upper and lower jaws  44  and  46  generally will be less than a thickness of the return flange  20  such that when the return flange  20  is received between the jaws, the upper and lower jaws  44  and  46  are urged away from each other. Depending on the material and the amount the jaws are spread apart, the jaws may compressively engage the opposing sided of the return flange  20 . 
         [0017]    In order to ease installation of the clip member portion  36  on the return flange  20 , a leading portion  50  of the upper jaw  44  is angled upwardly to thereby create a larger opening between the upper jaw  44  and the opposing lower jaw  46  at the opening of the clip member portion  36 . This allows for greater tolerance in the alignment between the return flange  20  and the upper and lower jaws  44  and  46  during installation. 
         [0018]    Returning to  FIG. 1 , when the label holder  14  is secured on the shelf  12  by the clip member portion  36 , the cover panel  24  is movable between a first position wherein the back surface  28  of the cover panel  24  is engaged with the front panel  24  of the shelf  12 , to a second position wherein the back surface  28  is spaced apart from the front panel  24  of the shelf  12  (shown in phantom in  FIG. 1 ) such that a label  54  ( FIG. 2 ) can be placed in the space between the cover panel  24  and the front panel  18  of the shelf  12 . In this regard, the cover panel  24  is pivotable about the hinge  40  located between its lower end  32  and the clip member portion  36 . The hinge  40  can be a necked down (e.g., thinner) portion of the label holder  14  at which point the cover panel  24  may be designed to bend away from the front panel  18  of the shelf  12 . In practice, the hinge  40  need not be a separate element or portion of the label holder  14 , but could simply be the position whereat the cover panel  24  pivots away from the front panel  18  of the shelf  12  when a force is applied to the upper end  30  of the cover panel  24 . 
         [0019]    Once installed, the label  54  is trapped in place between the back surface  28  of the cover panel  24  and the front panel  18  of the shelf. Accordingly, the cover panel  24  will have at least a portion thereof that is transparent to enable the label to be viewed through the cover panel  24 . The cover panel  24  can be made from a clear material such as a clear plastic, or can have portions thereof removed for viewing the label. 
         [0020]    In use, the label holder  14  will be installed on the shelf  12  generally by sliding the clip member portion  36  beyond the return flange  20  until the return flange  20  clears the upwardly bent leading edge portion  50  of the upper jaw  44 . In order to facilitate clearance of the clip member portion  36  to such position behind the front panel  18  of the shelf  12 , the cover panel  24  can be bent outwardly in a similar manner to that shown in phantom in  FIG. 1 . Once the return flange  20  enters the space between the upper and lower jaws  44  and  46 , the label holder  14  can then be shifted towards the front of the shelf  12  in order to seat the return flange  20  within the clip member portion  36 , as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0021]    As the label holder  14  is brought leftward in  FIG. 1 , the cover panel  24  will engage the front panel  18  of the shelf  12  as illustrated. The label  54  can then be inserted or removed from between the cover panel  24  and the front panel  18  of the shelf  12  rotating the cover panel  24  away from the shelf  12  as shown. Typically, the cover panel  24  may be rotated approximately 40° or more away from the face of the front panel  18  of the shelf  12 . 
         [0022]    In order to facilitate grasping of the cover panel  24  for moving it between its respective positions, a rounded bead  58  is provided at the leading upper end  30  of the cover panel  24 . This bead  58  allows a user to more readily grasp the upper end  30  of the cover panel  24  when it is engaged with the front panel  18  of the shelf  12  such as by inserting a fingernail behind the cover panel  24  and subsequently pulling the cover panel  24  away from the front panel  18  of the shelf  12  while then grasping the cover panel  24  between a forefinger and a thumb, for example. It will be appreciated that the bead  58  also provides a user a more stable grip on the cover panel  24  when the cover panel  24  is rotated away from the front panel  18  of the shelf  12  during installation of a label. 
         [0023]    Once a label is installed between the cover panel  24  and the front panel  18  of the shelf  12 , the cover panel  24  resiliently returns or is rotated back to the position shown in  FIG. 1  whereat the cover panel  24  generally is configured to engage the label and/or the front panel  18  of the shelf  12  along a major portion of a length extending between the upper and lower ends  30  and  32  of the cover portion. In this regard, the hinge  40  may apply a biasing force to bias the cover panel  24  into engagement with the front panel  18  of the shelf  12 . Such biasing force could serve to secure the label  54  between the cover panel  24  and the front panel  18  of the shelf  12  and also to automatically return the cover panel  24  to the label holding position shown in  FIG. 1  from the position at which a label can be inserted between the cover panel  24  and the front panel  18  of the shelf  12  (shown in phantom in  FIG. 1 ). In other words, the material of the cover panel  24  has memory and will return to its original position. To this end the label holder  14  can be extruded from a variety of known thermoplastics. In one embodiment, the material can be a clear rigid polyvinylchloride (RPVC). If desired, the label holder could be coextruded from different types of thermoplastics. 
         [0024]    In one embodiment, the cover panel  24  is thinner than the clip portion  36  of the label holder  14 . For example, the cover panel  24  can be about 0.020 inches in thickness while the thickness of the clip portion  36  can be about 0.030 inches. Employing a relatively thin cover panel  24  enables the cover panel to flex more readily in relation to the clip portion  36  of the label holder  14 . 
         [0025]    In the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the cover panel is generally planar and is adapted to closely engage the front panel  18  of the shelf  12  along a majority of its length between its upper and lower ends. Of course, other designs of the cover panel are possible. 
         [0026]    For example, turning to  FIG. 3 , another exemplary embodiment of a label holder is illustrated and identified generally by reference numeral  60 . In this embodiment, like components are identified with like numerals with a primed (′) suffix and new components are identified by new numerals. The label holder is identical to the label holder  14  of  FIGS. 1 and 2 , except that the cover panel  24 ′ is slightly curved such that its upper and lower ends  30 ′ and  32 ′ are configured to closely engage the front panel of the shelf, while a mid-portion  62  of the cover panel  24 ′ between the upper end and the lower ends  30 ′ and  32 ′ is spaced apart from the front panel of the shelf as illustrated. Since the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 3  is otherwise similar to the embodiment of  FIGS. 1 and 2  further details of the label holder  14  of  FIG. 3  will not be repeated here. The embodiment of  FIG. 3  may be particularly well suited for applications wherein a relatively thicker label will be used, or in applications where it would be desirable to more closely engage a label at its upper and lower edges rather than throughout its width. 
         [0027]    In any of the embodiments, the back surface  28  of the cover panel  24  can be roughened or otherwise textured in order to increase friction between the cover panel  24  and the label. Alternatively, or in addition, nubs, teeth, or other protrusions could be provided on the back surface  28  of the cover panel  24  for engaging a label. Such protrusions can be used to focus pressure applied by the cover panel  24  resulting from the biasing force applied by the hinge. Similarly, it will be appreciated that the surfaces of the upper and lower jaws  44  and  46  can be provided with roughened portions thereof or with nubs, teeth, or other protrusions for enhancing grip between the clip member and the return flange  20 . 
         [0028]    In the illustrated embodiments, the cover panel  24  has a cross-sectional shape closely resembling the cross-sectional shape of a front face of a shelf  12  to which it is adapted to engage. For example, in the embodiment of  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the front panel  18  of the shelf  12  is substantially planar and correspondingly the cover panel  24  is substantially planar as well. It will be appreciated, however, that the front panel  18  can be configured in a variety of shapes to correspond to various shapes of front panels of shelves. For example, some front panels may be concave or convex, and the cover panel  24  could have a corresponding concave or convex shape as may be the case such that when installed the cover panel  24  may closely engage the front panel  18  of the shelf  12 . 
         [0029]    The exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure have been described with reference to the above detailed description. Obviously, modifications and alterations will occur to others upon a reading and understanding of the preceding detailed description. It is intended that the disclosure not be limited to the embodiments described. Rather, the present disclosure should be construed as including all such modifications and alterations as come within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.