Patent Publication Number: US-6712324-B2

Title: Electronic labeling system to be carried by the crosspiece of a display unit with a peg

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to a system of electronic labeling. 
     Electronic labeling is widespread at present in stores, particularly large stores. Electronic labels are usually present in the form of a housing, generally fairly flat and rectangular parallelepipedal, on the front surface of which is disposed a display element such as a liquid crystal display screen. The display is controlled by a microprocessor, for example remotely controlled by the central computer of the store. 
     There is already known for example from the international application published under the number WO-98/58360, such an electronic label and a rail permitting positioning the latter on the front edge of the shelves of display cases on which are disposed products offered for sale. 
     The label and the rail comprise means ensuring emplacement of the label by snapping into the rail, which are such that although it is easy to emplace the label in the rail, it is impossible to move said label along the rail or to remove it from said rail without a suitable tool. 
     These means are constituted on the one hand by longitudinal grooves formed in two wings of the rail disposed facing each other and between which the label is to be positioned, and on the other hand by a rib formed on the surface of the label adapted to be engaged in the longitudinal groove of one of the wings of the rail, and a retractable finger urged by resilient means, mounted extending from the opposite surface of the label and adapted to be engaged in the longitudinal groove of the other wing of the rail. During emplacement of the label, said finger is inserted snap-fittingly in the longitudinal groove formed in said other wing of the rail and, after possible movement of the label for a short distance along the rail, in means such as blind openings formed in the bottom of said groove to immobilize said finger against translation in the longitudinal direction of the groove. 
     This arrangement permits providing an electronic labeling system which is very simple to use and which ensures that the label cannot be moved along the rail to be juxtaposed with products other than those whose characteristics it describes, or to be removed by more or less ill-intentioned persons. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,126,125 discloses a hooking device permitting fixing electronic labels to the shelves of a storage depot. The hooking device is formed of a single piece comprising a rail adapted to receive said label and a coupling element adapted to permit the securement of the label on the lower surface of the shelf. The hooking device permits protecting the electronic label and is adapted to be unhooked from the shelf in case of a shock, during movement of the shelves by elevation. 
     The document WO-97/48862 discloses an electronic label support permitting fixing an electronic label on a display unit comprising a rod. This support is constituted by a body adapted to receive the electronic label and an adaptor adapted to fix securely the body on a mounting portion. The body is fixed on the adaptor by means of attachments. The rod of the display unit is specially modified so as to comprise the mounting portion receiving the adaptor. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The object of the present invention is to provide a labeling system using the same labels not for products presented on shelves, but for packaged products in plastic film and carried by a display unit with a peg. Said labeling system is adapted in most cases to the forms which said peg can take and in particular when said peg comprises a T-shaped rod. In a manner known per se, the packaging of the product has an opening thanks to which it is threaded on the peg disposed perpendicularly to a fixed wall. Above the peg bearing the products offered for sale is disposed a rod terminating at its front end in a crosspiece perpendicular to it. The label is hooked to this crosspiece so as to be moved in rotation about the latter during removal or emplacement of the products carried by the peg. 
     To this end, the invention provides an electronic labeling system adapted to be carried by the crosspiece of a display unit with a peg, characterized in that it comprises: 
     an open housing constituted by a bottom, an upper wing and a lower wing, 
     an electronic label adapted to be positioned in said open housing, in the form of a flat rectangular parallelepipedal body whose front surface constituted by one of the large surfaces is provided with a display screen, and comprising a first hooking means coacting with a corresponding means on the upper wing of the housing and a second hooking means coacting with a corresponding means on the lower wing of the housing, 
     a suspension element comprising two walls disposed parallel to each other and connected by a cylindrical portion adapted to be disposed astride the crosspiece of the display unit with a peg, 
     positioning means ensuring with said first and second hooking means comprising the label and the corresponding means of the wings of the housing, the relative positioning and retention of said housing, label and suspension element, said positioning means being inaccessible when the electronic label is positioned in the housing. 
     The labeling system according to the invention is further remarkable in that: 
     said positioning means are constituted by a pin on the housing, a blind hole on the label and axially aligned openings formed in the walls of the suspension element, 
     the blind hole of the label is formed in the rear face of the body of the latter, 
     the upper wing of the housing comprises a slot opening into a hollow recess in the bottom of the housing, said slot and said recess being adapted for the positioning of said walls of the suspension element, 
     the pin of the housing is formed on the bottom of the recess and is of a length greater than the depth of said recess such that its end extends beyond the front of the bottom of the housing and is adapted to engage in the blind hole of the body of the label, 
     the first hooking means is a retractable finger mounted in the body of the label, extending beyond the upper surface of the latter and being urged by a spring, and coacting with corresponding means of the upper wing of the housing, 
     the second hooking means is a longitudinal groove formed in the lower surface of the body of the label coacting with a rib disposed longitudinally on the internal surface of the lower wing of the housing, 
     the suspension element is of general L-shape, the cylindrical portion being disposed at the free end of the short leg of the L, 
     said walls of the suspension element are bent substantially at a right angle so as to have a small portion and a large portion disposed perpendicularly to said small portion and adapted to be inserted in the housing, 
     the corresponding means of the upper wing of the housing coacting with the first retractable hooking means mounted in the body of the label, is a groove disposed longitudinally in the internal surface of the upper wing of the housing, 
     the corresponding means of the upper wing of the housing coacting with the first retractable hooking means mounted in the body of the label, is a blind hole disposed in the internal surface of the upper wing of the housing and opening through the facing surface of the lower wing of the housing, 
     the upper wing of the housing comprises a throat disposed between said blind hole and a front surface of said upper wing of the housing, the lateral surfaces of said throat being closed, such that said retractable finger will be guided laterally upon being freed from the throat, and the surface of the bottom of the throat forming a guide ramp for the retractable finger which opens laterally into said blind hole, between the bottom of the blind hole and the internal surface of the upper wing, such that the retractable finger will snap into the blind hole after being freed from the throat, 
     the housing comprises a second pin formed on the bottom of the recess and of a length equal to the depth of said recess, and in that the suspension element comprises second axially aligned openings formed in the walls, such that said second pin coacts with said second opening so as to ensure, with said positioning means, a rigid connection between the suspension element and the assembly of the housing and electronic label. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will be better understood from the description which follows, given by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
     FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the labeling system according to the invention and of the display unit with a peg that carries it, 
     FIGS. 2 to  4  are transverse cross-sectional view of three embodiments of the labeling system according to the invention. 
     FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a second preferred embodiment of the labeling system according to the invention and of the display unit with a peg which carries it. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     As shown in FIG. 1, the labeling system according to the invention, suitable for products carried by a display unit with a peg  1 , is comprised by an electronic label  2 , a housing  3  and a suspension element  4 . 
     The display unit with the peg  1  shown in the drawings, comprises a peg  10  on which are threaded packages of products offered for sale and a rod  11  extending parallel to the peg  10 , above this latter. A crosspiece  12  is fixed to the end of the rod  11  perpendicular to the latter. The invention is of course applicable to any form of display unit with a peg, the latter always comprising no matter what their embodiment, the elements described above. As a modification, and in a way known per se, instead of being fixed at its middle to the rod  11 , the crosspiece  12  can comprise an integral portion of said rod  11  and be obtained by bending the end of the latter, with the formation of a stop means at its free end such that the suspension element  4  cannot be removed by sliding it along the crosspiece. 
     The label  2  is similar to that described in the prior patent of the applicant, cited above. It is present in the form of a flat rectangular parallelepipedal body whose front surface  26  constituted by one of the large surfaces, is provided with a display screen  27 , for example a liquid crystal one. A retractable finger  24  forming a first hooking means is mounted in the body of the label and extends beyond the upper surface  21  of the latter and is pressed by a spring (not shown in the drawing). A longitudinal groove  23  forming a second hooking means is formed in the lower surface  22 , substantially at the middle of the latter. 
     The label body  2  also comprises a blind hole  25  in its rear surface  28 . 
     A housing  3  is an open housing of overall C shape and is constituted by a bottom  37  and two wings  31 ,  32  extending perpendicularly to the bottom  37 , at the top and bottom of this latter. The front ends of the wings  31 ,  32  have oblique surfaces  38  extending away from each other in a direction away from the bottom  37  of the housing  3 . 
     The lower wing  32  has a longitudinal rib  33  formed at its internal surface turned toward the upper wing  31 . The upper wing  31  has a longitudinal groove  34  formed in its internal surface turned toward the lower wing  32 . 
     The upper wing  31  moreover comprises a slot  39  opening into a recess  36  formed in the bottom  37  of the housing  3 . 
     A pin  35  is formed on the bottom of the recess  36 . Said pin  35  is of a length greater than the depth of said recess  36  such that its end extends forwardly of the bottom  37  of the housing  3 . 
     The suspension element  4  shown in FIG. 1, is of overall U shape. It is comprised be two walls  41 ,  42  disposed parallel to each other and connected by a cylindrical portion  43 . A central notch  46  separates the cylindrical portion  43 , the wall  41  and the wall portion  42  connected to the cylindrical portion  43  in two parts. 
     Each of the walls  41  and  42  is traversed by an opening  45 , the two openings  45  being axially aligned. 
     As is seen in FIG. 1, the housing  3  is of dimensions such that the label  2  can be introduced between the wings  31  and  32  of the latter. 
     The suspension element  4  is adapted to be disposed astride the crosspiece  12  of the display unit with a peg  1 . To this end, it is made in a way having a certain flexibility, for example of a rigid plastic sheet material, such that the walls  41 ,  42  can be spaced from each other. To position said suspension element  4  on the crosspiece  12 , the walls  41 ,  42  are spread apart from each other so as, to position the two portions of the wall  41  on one side of the crosspiece  12  and on opposite sides of the rod  11 , and the wall  42  on the other side of the crosspiece  12 . The suspension element  4  is then moved perpendicularly to the crosspiece  12  until it is positioned in the cylindrical portion  43 . 
     For the emplacement of the labeling system according to the invention on a display unit with a peg  1 , the suspension element  4  is disposed on the crosspiece  12  as described above, then housing  3  is emplaced on said suspension element  4 . To do this, the housing  3  is moved relative to said suspension element  4  such that the walls  41 ,  42  of this latter slide in the slot  39  and in the recess  36 . An angular movement of the housing  3  relative to the suspension element  4  permits causing the walls  41 ,  42  to pass above the pin  35  until the openings  45  of the walls  41 ,  42  can be positioned about said pin  35 . The depth of the recess  36  is preferably equal to the sum of the thicknesses of the two walls  41  and  42  of the suspension element  4 , such that, after emplacement of the housing  3  on the suspension element  4  in the manner described above, this latter is flush with the front surface of the bottom  27  of the housing  3 . 
     The label  2  is then emplaced in the support  3 . 
     To this end, the label  2  is presented inclined forwardly so as to position the groove  23  of its lower surface  22  against the rib  33  of the lower wing  32  of said housing  3 , this position being made possible by the oblique surface  38  of the wing  32 . 
     A movement of rotation about said rib  33  brings together the label  2  and the bottom  37  of the housing  3 . When the finger  24  is brought into contact with the oblique surface  38  of the upper wing  31 , it is pressed inwardly of the body of the label  2 . When the label  2  bears with its rear surface  28  against the bottom  37  of the body  3 , the finger  24  is disposed facing the groove  34  of the upper wing  31  and can return to its initial position. 
     During this emplacement of the label  2  in the housing  3 , the end of the pin  35  which extends beyond the bottom  37  of said housing  3 , penetrates the blind hole  25  provided in the rear surface of the label  2 . 
     The pin  35 , the blind hole  25  of the label and the openings  45  of the suspension element  4 , thus constitute positioning means which, in combination with the first  24  and second  23  hooking means carried by the label body  2  and the corresponding means of the upper wing  31  and lower wing  32  of the housing  3 , ensure the relative positioning and retention of the three elements of the labeling system according to the invention: the suspension element  4 , the housing  3 , and the label  2 . These means are preferably inaccessible when the label  2  is positioned in the housing  3 , so as to avoid any improper removal from the system. 
     When the labeling system is positioned on the crosspiece  12  of the display unit with a peg, it is impossible to slide the label  2  between the wings  31 ,  32  of the housing  3  because it is held in position by the pin  35 . It is impossible to remove the housing  3 , because it is held in place by the coaction on the one hand of the groove  23  with the rib  33 , and on the other hand of the finger  24  with the groove  34 . 
     It is also impossible to disassemble the assembly of housing  3 —label  2  from the suspension element  4 , because of the positioning of the pin  35  in the openings  45 . 
     There is thus obtained a secure mounting which cannot be unmounted without a specially suited tool. 
     As described in the mentioned international application, the label  2  can only be removed from the housing  3  when a suitable tool is used, provided with a magnetic means permitting withdrawing the finger  24  inwardly of the label body. 
     The portion of the suspension element  4  which extends above the upper wing  31  of the housing  3  and the portion of the central notch  46  which extends in the wall  42  of said suspension element  4 , are of such dimensions that the suspension element  4  can be turned about the crosspiece  12  without this movement being prevented by the end of the rod  11 , by the suspension element  4  or by the housing  3 , so as to free the space necessary below the rod  11  to emplace or withdraw articles from the peg  10 . 
     FIGS. 2 to  4  show three forms of embodiment permitting positioning the front surface of the label at different inclinations. Thus, the display screen  27  being constituted by a liquid crystal display, it is necessary that the reading axis be overall perpendicular to the surface of the screen. It is thus suitable that the labels positioned on the display units located at a mean height, have their front surface disposed substantially vertically, whilst those located on display units located at a greater or lesser height have their front surface inclined respectively downwardly or upwardly. 
     To this end, according to modified embodiments of FIGS. 2 to  4 , the suspension element  5 ,  6 ,  7  is made with a general L shape, its cylindrical portion  53 ,  63 ,  73  being disposed at the front end of the short leg of the L. 
     The walls of suspension elements  5 ,  6 ,  7  are bent substantially at a right angle so as to have a small portion  50 ,  60 ,  70  and a large portion  51 ,  61 ,  71  disposed substantially perpendicular to the small portion and adapted to be inserted in the housing  3 . 
     As is shown in FIGS. 2 to  4 , when the system according to the invention is carried by the suspension element  4 , it is oriented by gravity such that its center of gravity G will be in the vertical plane passing through the crosspiece  12 . To obtain suitable inclination of the label  2 , it suffices to modify the length of the small portion  50 ,  60 ,  70  and to position it either to the rear of or in front of the crosspiece  12 . 
     The suspension element  5  of FIG. 2 has a small portion  50  of a relatively great length. When the latter is positioned behind the crosspiece  12  as shown, the label  2  is strongly inclined upwardly. A suspension element with such a small portion  50  of a relatively great length, positioned in front of the crosspiece, permits obtaining a mounting with the label  2  strongly downwardly inclined. 
     The suspension element  6  of FIG. 3 has a small portion  60  of medium length. When the latter is positioned in front of the crosspiece  12  as shown, the label  2  is medially inclined downwardly. A suspension element with such a small portion  30  of mean length positioned in front of the crosspiece, permits obtaining mounting with the label  2  medially inclined upwardly. 
     The suspension element  7  of FIG. 4 has a small portion  70  of short length, equivalent about to about half the thickness of the housing  3 . When the latter is positioned behind the crosspiece  12  as shown, the label  2  is vertical. The same will be true with a suspension element whose small portion  70  of short length, equivalent about to half the thickness of the housing  3 , would be positioned in front of the crosspiece. 
     The invention of course relates to any modified embodiment not shown in the drawing, and entering into the scope of the accompanying claims. By way of example, in a labeling system according to the invention adapted for a display unit with a peg, whose crosspiece  12  will be constituted by bending the end of the rod  11 , with the formation of a stop means at its free end, the suspension element need not have a notch. It would thus be possible to position the pin  35  of the housing  3 , the blind hole  25  of the label  2  and the openings  45  of the suspension element, longitudinally at the center of these latter such that said suspension element could be placed with one or the other of its walls in front of said crosspiece  12 . This arrangement would be especially advantageous for suspension elements having walls bent substantially at a right angle, because they could be used either for elements placed high or for elements placed fairly low. 
     FIG. 5 shows a second preferred embodiment of the hooking system according to the invention. In FIG. 5, elements identical to the first embodiment of the invention have the same reference numerals. In this embodiment, the first hooking means of the electronic label  2 , constituted by the retractable finger  24 , coact with a corresponding means which is a blind hole  134 . This blind hole is provided in the upper wing  131  of the housing  103  and opens through the surface of the upper wing  131  facing the lower wing  132 . In position, when the retractable finger  24  is engaged in the blind hole, and in combination with the other positioning means, any movement of the electronic label laterally relative to, the housing  103  is rendered impossible. In particular, in this second embodiment, the retractable finger  24 , of metal and substantially unbreakable, positioned in the blind hole  134  prevents, during a strong lateral shock, any breakage of the plastic pin  35 . 
     To permit the retraction of the retractable finger  24  during emplacement of the electronic label  2  on the housing  103 , a throat  138  is provided between said blind hole  134  and the front surface of the upper wing  131 . The surface of the bottom of the throat  138  is inclined and forms a guide ramp for the retractable finger  24 . The guide ramp opens laterally into the blind hole  134  between the bottom of the blind hole and the surface of the upper wing  131 . This particular arrangement permits the retractable finger  24  to be free from the front surface of the upper wing  131  and to snap into the blind hole  134 . When the retractable finger  24  is brought into contact with the guide ramp of the throat  138 , it is pressed inwardly of the label body  2 . Once the electronic label  2  is disposed against the bottom  137  of the housing  103 , the finger  24  is disposed facing the blind hole  134  and resumes its initial position. 
     Preferably, the side faces of the throat  138  approach each other to the extent that they approach the bottom  137  or the blind hole  134  of the housing  103 . This arrangement has the advantage of guiding the retractable finger  24  during emplacement of the label on the support and hence of permitting correctly placing the electronic label  2  laterally relative to the support  103 . Thus, the user can easily find the lateral position such that the pin  35  effectively penetrates the blind hole  25  provided in the rear surface of the label  2 . This avoids the label  2  being in a laterally offset position it which the pin  35  bears on the rear surface  28  of the label  2  deforming it and generating large friction forces against the retractable finger  24  such that the suitable tool provided with magnetic means can no longer remove the label  2  by retracting the finger  24  toward the interior of the label body  2 . 
     In this second embodiment of the invention, a second pin  135  is formed on the bottom of the recess  36 . The second pin  135  is of a length substantially equal to the depth of said recess  36 . Preferably, said second pin is disposed symmetrically relative to the pin  35  relative to a vertical plane of symmetry passing through the center of the housing  103 . 
     Similarly, each of the walls  41  and  42  of the suspension element  104 , in the second embodiment, is traversed by a second opening  145 , the two second openings being axially aligned. The openings  145  and  45  are preferably disposed symmetrically relative to a vertical plane of symmetry passing through the center of the suspension element  104 . 
     During emplacement of the housing  103  on the suspension element  104 , the walls  41  and  42  pass above the pin  35 , and hence above the second shorter pin  135 , until the openings  45  in the walls  41  and  42  can be positioned about said pin  35  and the openings  145  of the walls  41  and  42  can be positioned about said second pin  135 . 
     This particular arrangement of the second embodiment of the present invention permits rigidifying the connection between, on the one hand, the assembly constituted by the housing  103  and the electronic label  2  and, on the other hand, the suspension element  104 , made of a plastic material, by bending sheets of plastic or by plastic injection in a mold, having a certain flexibility and hence an aptitude to be deformed. In particular, this avoids the suspension element  104  deforming and turning about the lug  35  of the housing. This second pin  135 , forming a second hitching point of the securement element, is particularly interesting when the suspension element used is suspension element  5  of FIG. 2 comprising a portion  50  of relatively great length.