Patent Publication Number: US-6209831-B1

Title: Product support hook for use in electronic product information display system

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates generally to electronic product information display systems, and more particularly to a product support and electronic information display device adapted for attachment to a mounting panel having a plurality of mount openings therein, and a related electronic display system. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The concept of electronic product information display systems is becoming more and more popular. For example, a system which utilizes an inductive coupling technique to provide power and information to a plurality of electronic display tags is disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,537,126 and 5,736,967. Other types of electronic product information display systems utilize RF communication between the electronic display tags and a controller. 
     The advent of such electronic product information display systems has generated an expanding need for devices suited for implementing such display systems in a wide variety of display structures. For example, existing stores tend to have many different types of product display shelves, stands, racks, rails, etc. One type of product display structure commonly used for smaller items is a mounting panel in the form of a wall board having a plurality of holes or openings therein which are adapted to receive hook type members, commonly referred to as peg hooks, from which products can be hung. The flexibility of such arrangements is advantageous, but in the context of electronic product information display systems the problem lies in the absence of the typical shelf front rail to which electronic display tags have been connected in the past. 
     Accordingly, it would be desirable and advantageous to provide an electronic product information display system compatible with the mounting panel/peg hook type product display structure. Further, it would be desirable and advantageous to provide a product support and information display device adapted for attachment to a mounting panel and adapted for use with an electronic display tag. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one aspect of the present invention a display system adapted for use in combination with one or more electronic display tags is provided and includes a mounting panel having a plurality of openings therein forming at least one line of spaced openings. A conductor is positioned adjacent the mounting panel and extends along at least a portion of the line of spaced openings. An elongated peg hook frame has a front end and a rear end. The rear end of the peg hook frame includes at least one hook-type member which is positioned within one of the spaced openings of the mounting panel. A coil is positioned at the rear end of the peg hook frame so as to be proximate to the conductor for inductive coupling therewith. 
     An electronic display tag may be positioned on a front portion of the peg hook frame with a pair of lead wires extending from the tag to the coil which may be wound about a magnetic core. The leads provide information signals to the display tag for controlling the display of information thereby. The leads may also provide power to the electronic display tag, if necessary, as taught in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,537,126 and 5,736,967. Advantageously, the display hook may be removed from the mounting panel for repositioning thereon as desired to provide product support and electronic display information at another location. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, a product support and electronic product information display device adapted for attachment to a mounting panel having a plurality of mount openings therein is provided and includes an elongated peg hook frame having a front end and a rear end. The rear end of the peg hook frame includes at least one hook-type member for positioning within one of the mount openings of the mounting panel to support the peg hook frame therefrom. An electronic display tag is pivotally connected to the peg hook frame to enable selection of a display angle of the display tag. 
     In embodiments adapted for inductive communication with a controller, the rear end may also include a magnetic core with a coil wound thereon and leads extending from the coil to the tag. In order to assure that the magnetic core and/or coil is properly positioned adjacent a conductive member extending along the mounting panel, an appropriate biasing mechanism or urging mechanism may also be provided at the rear end of the peg hook frame to aid in pressing the magnetic core in a rearward direction. Again, the subject device provides an electronic display of product information while at the same time permitting simple reorganization within a peg hook type display system. 
     Advantageously, the electronic display tag may also be pivotally mounted to the information display support to permit selection of a display angle of the display tag when the peg hook frame is positioned on the mounting panel. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of one embodiment of a display system in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a partial side elevation view of the display system of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of a magnetic core and associated coil utilized in the display system of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 is a partial perspective, exploded view of the rear end of one embodiment of a peg hook frame for use in the display system of FIG. 1; 
     FIGS. 5A-5C are partial side elevation views of the rear ends of peg hook frames incorporating magnetic core mount structures; 
     FIG. 6 is a partial side elevation view of the rear end of the peg hook frame of FIG. 4, incorporating another embodiment of a magnetic core mount structure; and 
     FIG. 7 is a partial side elevation view of an alternative embodiment of the front end of the peg hook frame utilized in the display system of FIG.  1 . 
     FIGS. 8 and 9 show alternative coil urging mechanisms. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to the drawings, FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate one embodiment of a display system  10  in accordance with the present invention having a mounting panel  12  having a plurality of holes or openings  14  formed therethrough. Mounting panel  12  may be formed of any suitable material such as plastic, wood, processed wood/paper fibers such as masonite, or even metal. In a typical peg hook type display system mounting panel  12  is commonly referred to as a peg board or wall board and the term mounting panel is intended to cover such structures as well as variations thereof suited to the invention. The openings  14  on the mounting panel are generally spaced equidistant from each other and form a plurality of rows  16  and columns  18  of spaced openings. A conductive member  20  is positioned against the mounting panel and extends along at least a portion of one of the rows  16  of spaced openings  14  as shown. It is likewise recognized that the conductive member  20  could extend along one of the columns  18  of spaced openings  14  and that multiple conductive members could be provided on a given mounting panel. 
     In the illustrated embodiment conductive member  20  is formed by a pair of spaced, flat rectangular electrically conductive strips  22  which are housed within an electrically insulating material  24  such as a semi-rigid plastic housing or coating. The conductive member  20  may be secured to the mounting panel  12  by any suitable means such as an adhesive, screws, nails, clips, or other fasteners. In the preferred embodiment, the conductive member  20  is mounted in a semi-permanent manner which allows it to be moved to another location on the mounting panel  12  if necessary or desired during a reorganization of the product display system  10 . However, the conductive member  20  could be positioned on the rear side of the mounting panel  12  or could be formed integrally within the mounting panel  12 . Further, a single conductor could be utilized. 
     The insulating casing  24  of the conductive member  20  includes a plurality of spaced openings  26  therethrough in the region between the spaced conductors  22 . The openings  26  are preferably spaced similarly to the openings  14  on the mounting panel  12  to facilitate alignment of the respective openings  26  and  14  as shown. However, it is recognized that other spacings of the openings  26  are possible. The electronic product information display system includes a controller  27  configured to communicate with a multiplicity of electronic display tags, and the conductor or conductors  22  are operatively connected to the controller  27 , as shown schematically, for receiving signals therefrom. The controller  27  may be an individual controller or may be formed by multiple interrelated controllers such as the area controller and system controller described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,537,126 and 5,736,967. 
     A product and information display support  28  is provided in the form of an elongated peg hook frame  30  having a front end  32  and a rear end  34 . The peg hook frame  30  includes an elongated product support  36  and an elongated information display support  38 . The information display support  38  includes an attachment surface  40  at its front end for receiving an electronic display tag  42 . The elongated product support  36  is adapted at its front end to receive products for the support and display thereof in a sequential manner along its length. For example, the front end of product support  36  angles slightly upward at  44  to aid in preventing packages or products supported thereon from sliding off of the product support  36  unless pulled, for example by a customer. 
     The rear end of peg hook frame  30  includes two hook-type members,  46  each positioned within and through a respective opening  14  within the mounting panel  12 , and likewise through the conductive member opening  26  aligned therewith. Spaced stabilizing feet or legs  48  may also be provided at the lower rear portion of the peg hook frame  30  so as to abut against the surface of the mounting panel  12 . Alternatively, the stabilizing legs  48  could be positioned for insertion into respective openings  14 . The peg hook frame  30  may be formed by individual metallic rod or tubular members which are bent as necessary and welded together. However, it is recognized that other materials could be used to form the peg hook frame  30  including wood or even plastic, in which case the peg hook frame  30  could be formed as an integral molded unit. It is also recognized that the product support  36 , the information display support  38 , and the other portions of the peg hook frame  30  could take on other shapes aside from the tubular shapes shown, such as elongated rectangular members or elongated plate-like structures. Further, while the product support  36  and information display support  38  are shown extending generally horizontal from the mounting panel  12 , it is recognized and contemplated that such supports could extend at some predetermined angle, either upward or downward as desired. 
     The peg hook frame  30  includes a magnetic core member  50  positioned at its rear end  34  so as to be proximate to the conductive member  20  when peg hook frame  30  is attached to the mounting panel  12 . A coil  52  (FIG. 3) wound around the magnetic core  50  has lead wires  54  which extend forward toward the front end of the peg hook frame and particularly to the attachment surface of the information display support  38  for connection to the electronic display tag  42 . Where information display support  38  is a hollow tubular member, it is anticipated that lead wires  54  could extend within the tubular member along a substantial portion of the length thereof before exiting the member to connect to the electronic display tag  42 . However, the lead wires  54  could also extend along the outer surface of the information display support  38  or, in the case of a molded plastic peg hook frame  30 , the lead wires  54  could be molded integrally within the product support  38 . 
     The coil  52  is provided for inductive coupling with the conductor or conductors  22 . The primary significance of the magnetic core  50  is to facilitate or increase inductive coupling between the coil  52  and the conductors  22  of the conductive member  20 . The term “magnetic core” refers generally to any structure having a relatively high magnetic permeability which would tend to increase inductive coupling between the conductor or conductors  22  and the coil  52 . In this regard, in the preferred embodiment the magnetic core  50  includes a base portion  56  having prongs  58  which extend therefrom, with the end prongs  58  being positioned adjacent to the outside (in this configuration top or bottom) of a respective one of the spaced conductors  22  while the intermediate prong  58  is positioned between the spaced conductors  22 . However, it is recognized that other magnetic core configurations could be utilized. Electrical information and/or power signals transmitted along the conductors  22  are thus communicated to the electronic display tag  42  by inductive coupling of such signals to the coil  52  on the magnetic core  50 . 
     The electronic display tag  42  includes a display screen  60  for displaying product information such as the total price or price per unit weight of the product positioned on the product support  36 . The front face of the electronic display tag  42  may also include one or more printed labels  62  adhesively attached thereto for conveying additional product information to potential consumers. Internally the display tag may include display driver circuitry such as a microcontroller or ASIC, switch means, input circuitry for receiving power and information signals, and output circuitry for effecting communication with the controller  27 . An adhesive member such as a double-sided adhesive foam  64  may be used to secure the electronic display tag  42  to the attachment face  40  of the information display support  38 . However, it is also recognized that other means of attaching the tag  42  to the product support  38  may be utilized, such as a fastener-type arrangement or through the use of an attachment face  40  structured to receive the display tag  42  in a snap-fit type manner. 
     Referring now to FIG. 4 in which an exploded perspective view of the rear portion of another embodiment of a peg hook frame is shown, a bracket  70  includes openings  72  and  74  positioned and spaced for attachment to the rear end of information display support  38  and product support  36  respectively. Such attachment could be achieved by welding or other suitable means. The bracket  70  includes spaced hooks  76  for positioning within the openings  14  of the mounting panel  12 , and a stabilizing plate  78  the rear side of which is positioned to abut against the surface of the mounting panel  12 . A side elevation view of the bracket  70  as connected to the supports  36  and  38  is shown in FIG.  5 A. While the magnetic core  50  could be rigidly secured to the rear portion of the peg hook frame  30 , in one preferred embodiment the magnetic core  50  is mounted in a movable manner and so as to be urged in the rearward direction when the peg hook frame  30  is positioned on the mounting panel  12 . One example of such a connection is shown in FIG. 5A in which a leaf-spring type member  80  is secured to the bracket  70  at one end by one or more screws  82  with the magnetic core  50  being secured toward the other end of the leaf spring  80 . It is recognized that leaf spring  80  could be connected to the bracket  70  in some other manner, such as by welding. The leaf spring  80  is movable in the frontward direction indicated by arrow  84  when the magnetic core  50  comes into contact with the surface of the mounting panel  12  and when so moved the leaf spring  80  maintains a resilience which tends to push the magnetic core  50  in the rearward direction indicated by arrow  86  so as to assure that the magnetic core  50  abuts against the mounting panel  12  and/or the conductor or conductors  22  extending along the mounting panel  12 . An alternative leaf spring  80 ′ and bracket  70 ′ configuration is shown in FIGS. 5B-5C, with FIG. 5B showing the rear end  34 ′ of a peg hook frame  30 ′ before connection to a mounting panel. FIG. 5C shows the rear end  34 ′ of the peg hook frame  30 ′, including support  36  and  38  after connection with the mounting panel  12 , using hook  76 ′ the magnetic core  50  and coil  52  being urged by the leaf spring  80 ′ into the illustrated position adjacent the conductors  22  of the conductive member. 
     In an alternative embodiment, shown in FIG. 6, the magnetic core  50  is secured to a mount shaft  90  which in this embodiment bends downward as shown. A front end of the mount shaft  90  extends into the rear opening of the tubular information display support  38  as indicated by dashed line  92  to permit the mount shaft  90  to move in the frontward direction indicated by arrow  95 . Internal stops  96  may be located within the tubular information display support  38  to limit the frontward movement of mount shaft  90 . A compression spring  94  is positioned about the mount shaft  90  and contacts the rear surface of the mounting bracket  70  for urging the mount shaft in the rearward direction indicated by arrow  98 . It is also anticipated that the compression spring  94  could be disposed within the tubular information display support  38  between the stops  96  and the front end of mount shaft  90 . Still further, although the leaf spring structure and compression spring structure represent preferred structures for urging the magnetic core in the rearward direction toward the mounting panel  12  upon attachment of the peg hook frame  30  to the mounting panel  12 , it is recognized that other structures may be suitable for the same purpose. For example, a lever-type mechanism which contacts the mounting panel and pivots the magnetic core  50  toward the mounting panel could be utilized as shown in FIG. 8, or a compressible piston-type member  160  could be utilized in a manner similar to the compression spring  94  as shown in FIG.  9 . It is also recognized that a coil might be provided without a magnetic core, in which case the coil alone could be urged in the rearward direction toward the mounting panel for positioning nearby the conductive member with which inductive coupling is desired. 
     For another aspect of the present invention reference is made to FIG. 7 in which the front end  32  of the peg hook frame  30  is shown in partial side elevation. In particular, in this embodiment the attachment surface  40  is formed on a bracket  100  which is pivotally mounted to the front end of information display support  38 , such as through the use of a bolt  102  which passes therethrough and is sufficiently tight to hold the bracket  100  in place unless the bracket  100  is manually rotated or pivoted as indicated by arrows  104 . Accordingly, this structure facilitates positioning of the peg hook frame at any location on a given mounting panel  12 , particularly at both high and low locations. The bracket  100  can be manually pivoted to establish a display angle of the attachment surface  40  and display tag  42 , such display angle being selectable as an upward display angle in cases where the peg hook frame  30  is positioned substantially lower than the average customer&#39;s point of visible perception and such display angle being selected as a downward display angle in cases where the peg hook frame  30  is positioned substantially higher than the average customer&#39;s point of visual perception. Other structures for pivotally mounting the display tag  42  to the peg hook frame  30  could also be utilized. The combination peg hook frame and pivotally mounted electronic display tag provides the display angle selection advantage with other types of electronic display tags, including those which utilize RF type communication with a controller rather than inductive communication. 
     While the forms of the apparatus herein described constitute preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to these precise forms and that changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, while the attachment hooks are shown on an upper portion of the peg hook frame, such attachment hooks could similarly be located toward the bottom of such peg hook frame. Likewise, while the leaf spring and compression spring are shown and described on an upper portion of the peg hook frame in association with the information display support, such structures could be positioned elsewhere on the rear portion of the peg hook frame.