Patent Abstract:
An updatable and lockable flip chart holder that can clip into the rail strip or channel of a shelf or fasten to a display at a retail store. The flip chart holder allows manufacturers or promoters of products that are sold at retail to create consumer, educational, or promotional flip charts that can easily and economically be updated by opening rings. The lockable flip chart has a panel, and attached to the panel is a ring system with each ring having two ring halves and hinged leaves connected to each other and attached to each ring half respectively. A locking mechanism on the ring system presses against the leaves to prevent the ring halves from opening. Locking the rings also provides security so consumers cannot take the pages out of the flip chart holder.

Full Description:
RELATED U.S. APPLICATION DATA 
     This application has priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/216,085, filed Jul. 6, 2000. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a flip chart holder. More specifically, the invention is directed toward an updatable and lockable flip chart holder that can clip into the rail strip or channel of a shelf or fasten to a display at a retail store. 
     Merchandising and informational needs have evolved in the increasingly competitive marketplace. Point-of-purchase signage is important because many purchasing decisions are made while viewing the products on display. Sign holders with signage, such as flip charts, provide the consumer with educational or advertising information where it is quite useful. Flip charts are used to provide a variety of information. Flip charts are useful to provide more and better categorized information than single panel displays. Additionally, flip charts can often be tabbed so that desired information may be readily selected and reviewed. 
     Educational or promotional flip charts frequently need to be updated. With spiral bound flip chart pages, the entire flip chart would have to be removed. Such removal of an entire set of chart pages is not economical when only selected information needs to be updated. 
     Further, readily removable pages or sets of pages have both benefits and drawbacks. They are easier to use, but they are also easier to tamper with. Mischievous customers or others who are unauthorized can remove the chart pages or sets of pages that are not secured. 
     Accordingly, it would be desirable to have a shelf-front display system that can easily be updated while maintaining the security of the pages. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention may be described as a flip chart holder that allows manufacturers or promoters of products that are sold at retail to create consumer, educational, or promotional flip charts that can be easily and economically updated using rings that open similar to the rings of a binder. At the same time, locking the rings provides security so consumers cannot take the pages out of the flip chart holder. A lock for the rings can comprise an Allen screw or a similar device located at the center top portion of the flip chart holder and can be opened with an Allen wrench or a similar complementary tool. 
     A primary benefit of the present invention is that it is easy to use. Flip chart pages can be installed or removed by opening rings in a ring system similar to a three-ring binder. When the ring halves are opened, pages of the flip chart can be removed, inserted, or updated. 
     The present invention overcomes problems with the mischievous removal of pages. The flip chart holder contains a locking mechanism so that the rings can only be opened when the holder is unlocked. The locking mechanism is a simple device. In a preferred embodiment, the locking device is an insert that can be rotated into the cover to secure hinged leaves that are connected to the ring halves. 
     In a preferred embodiment, a mount is secured to the back surface of the backing panel. A mount may attach so that the holder hangs from a shelf front or various other displays. Shelving faces include C-channels as a common profile. C-channels are an open-faced design that allows signs, displays, or price tags to be easily slipped into the channel for viewing by the customer. There are standard 1¼ inch shelf channels. A channel adapter or bracket can be attached to the back surface of the backing panel so that the holder can be secured to the rail or channel on the face of a shelf. A variety of other mounts are available depending on the display. With other mounts, the holder can snap securely to wire fixtures. Also, the backing panel can clip on a pegboard or a slatwall with an adapter. Of course, the holder can also be fixedly mounted on a surface. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The above mentioned and other features of this invention and the manner of obtaining them will become more apparent, and the invention itself will be best understood by reference to the following description of embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1 shows a flip chart holder of the present invention attached to a channel on a shelf face. 
     FIG. 2 shows a top view of a flip chart holder. 
     FIG. 3 shows a cross sectional view of an open ring system with an unlocked locking device. 
     FIG. 4 shows a cross sectional view of a closed ring system with a locked locking device. 
     FIG. 5 shows a page adapted to be used with a flip chart holder. 
     FIG. 6 shows a mount for use with a channel. 
     FIG. 7 shows another embodiment of a mount for a peg board or slatwall. 
     FIG. 8 shows yet another mount adaptable for a slatwall. 
     FIG. 9 shows a further mount for a slatwall. 
     FIG. 10 shows an additional mount for a surface mount. 
     FIG. 11 shows a below shelf mount. 
     FIG. 12 shows an alternate embodiment of a below shelf mount. 
     FIG. 13 shows a center shelf mount. 
     FIG. 14 shows an alternate center shelf mount. 
     FIG. 15 shows a mount for an edge of a glass shelf. 
     FIG. 16 shows an alternate mount for a glass shelf. 
     FIG. 17 shows a flush mount for a shelf with perforations. 
     FIG. 18 shows a multipurpose mount adaptable for clipping over wire. 
     FIG. 19 shows a mount for a shelf. 
     FIG. 20 shows a bendable mount for various purposes. 
     FIG. 21 shows a mount using an adhesive. 
     FIG. 22 shows a holder with pages and a page protector. 
     FIG. 23 shows a page protector. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     In the Figures, like reference numerals indicate the same elements throughout. FIG. 1 shows a flip chart holder  10  clipped to the rail strip or channel  12  of a shelf face. The flip chart holder  10  can similarly be fastened to a display at a retail store. 
     In greater detail, with reference first directed to FIG. 2, the holder  10  includes a ring system  14  attached on the face side  16  of a backing  18  and a mount  20  (See FIGS. 6-21) attached on the back surface  22  of the backing  18 . The ring system  14  and mount  20  are fixedly attached to opposite sides of the backing  18 . The preferred means of attachment  24  is a rivet. The same rivet  24  can hold the ring system  14  and the mount  20  to the backing  18 . The attachment means  24  of attaching the ring system  14  to the backing  18  and the mount  20  to the backing  18  also includes any type of adhesive, cement, glue, tape, screw, nut and bolt, clip, clasp, tie, hook, strap or other equivalent fastener. 
     The ring system  14  has a multi-faced, rounded or dual angle ring system cover  26 , a plurality of rings  28  and  30 , each having two ring halves  32  and  34 ,  36  and  38  respectively, and a plurality of leaves  40  and  42  (See FIGS.  3  and  4 ). The rings  28  and  30  are mounted within the cover  26  that has openings  44 ,  46 ,  48 , and  50  in its upper surface  52  through which the respective ring halves  32 ,  34 ,  36  and  38  project. The ring halves  32  and  34 ,  36  and  38  respectively are separated to open the rings  28  and  30 . 
     The ring system  14  preferably includes a pair of leaves  40  and  42  hingedly connected to each other for relative movement between them. A plurality of rings  28  and  30  are each formed of a pair of ring halves  32  and  34 , 36  and  38  respectively with one end of each ring half per ring attached to a separate one of the leaves  40  and  42  as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. This allows for movement of the leaves  40  and  42  relative to each other to move the ring halves  32  and  34 ,  36  and  38  respectively to open and close the rings  28  and  30 . FIG. 3 shows a cross sectional view of a ring system  14  with the ring  28  open. FIG. 4 shows a cross sectional view of a ring system  14  with the ring  28  closed. 
     Release levers or latches (not shown) are common to many three ring binders at each end of the ring system  14  to open and close the rings  28  and  30 . Such levers or latches are well known. The lever would contact both the leaves  40  and  42 . By pushing down on the lever, one leaf has counterclockwise rotation and the other leaf has clockwise rotation, or the lever otherwise functions in a similar fashion to act upon the leaves. These release levers can be used with this system  14 , but are preferably not included. A person opens the rings  28  and  30  by either pulling the ring halves  32  and  34 ,  36  and  38  respectively apart, or by pushing outwardly on the lever arms. Ideally, in the preferred embodiment without levers, the rings  28  and  30  are opened by pulling each ring half (i.e.,  32  from  34 ,  36  from  38 ) away from each other. 
     As shown in FIG. 4, the leaves  40  and  42 , when the rings  28  and  30  are closed, form a predetermined angle with respect to each other so that the leaves  40  and  42  are substantially parallel, defined as less than fifteen degrees. The leaves  40  and  42  are ideally perfectly parallel to each other and the backing  18  when the rings  28  and  30  are closed. The distal ends of the leaves  40  and  42  are in their closest position to the backing  18 , i.e., away from the cover  26  in the center portion when viewed in the cross section. 
     As shown in FIG. 3, an obtuse angle is formed between the distal ends of the leaves  40  and  42  when the ring halves  32  and  34  are open. The angle when the rings  28  and  30  are open can be more or less than 15 degrees, but as apparent, when the rings  28  and  30  are open, a distal end of each leaf  40  or  42  is angled away from the backing  18  toward the cover  26  in the center portion in the cross section. The locking device  60  operates by preventing the leaves  40  and  42  from rotating toward the cover  26 . 
     A locking device  60  is installed on the cover  26  of the ring system  14 . The locking device  60  includes a cylinder with threads, such as a rod incised with advancing spiral threads. In a preferred embodiment, an aperture  62  (shown in FIG. 2) in the cover  26  provides the guide for a threaded screw of the locking device  60 , which can rotate in and out of the cover  26 . Preferably, the locking device  60  is installed in the center of the ring system  14  between the rings  28  and  30 . When the locking device  60  fully advances into the cover  26  with the rings  28  and  30  closed, the leaves  40  and  42  cannot rotate, thus precluding the rings  28  and  30  from opening. 
     A locking device  60  presses against the pair of leaves  40  and  42  when they are substantially parallel and are thus prevented from movement relative to each other. This prevents the ring halves  32  and  34 ,  36  and  38  respectively, which are attached to the leaves  40  and  42 , from movement to open the rings  28  and  30 . FIG. 4 shows a cross sectional view of a closed ring system  14  with a locked locking device  60 . 
     Also, the leaves  40  and  42  and the attached ring halves  32  and  34 ,  36  and  38  are readily movable when the locking device  60  is not pressed against the pair of leaves  40  and  42 . FIG. 3 shows the locking device  60  in an unlocked position so that the leaves  40  and  42  can be moved without interference from the locking device  60 . 
     The preferred locking device  60  advances by twisting into the cover  26 . The protective feature to preclude twisting by a mischievous customer could be an aperture  64  in the top surface of a screw. The shape of the aperture  64  corresponds to a tool. In a common, simple form, the aperture  64  can be a hexagon as shown in FIG. 2, and the corresponding tool would be an Allen wrench. A key could also be in various shapes to correspond with an aperture or even the circumference of a cylindrical rod. The locking device  60  could only be rotated by using the corresponding tool or key. 
     The backing  18  is any rigid, substantially flat material, preferably a plastic board. The scope of the invention encompasses a variety of materials for backings or some combination thereof. A backing  18  found to be appropriate is a 0.055 matte white polyboard. The backing  18  can also be wood, cardboard or even glass. For retail use, a preferred size of a backing  18  is seven inches wide by four inches in height. For that size holder, half-inch rings  28  and  30  were found to be suitable. 
     The rings  28  and  30  independently secure into a band without a gap between the ring halves  32  and  34 , 36  and  38  respectively to preclude pages  70  from falling out of the rings  28  and  30 . The rings  28  and  30  are part of a system similar to a system in the binder spine of a three-ring binder preferably without the end lever to open the rings  28  and  30 . Ideally, two rings  28  and  30  are used; however, one or more rings can be used depending on the flip chart panels or pages  70  being used. 
     As shown in FIG. 5, page  70  can be any type of paper or plastic sheet material. The preferred page  70  is durable or reinforced so that it cannot be torn out of the holder  10 . The pages  70  are adapted to provide educational or advertising information as desired. The pages  70  hang from rings  28  and  30  and rest against the face side  16  of a backing  18 . A plurality of holes  72  are made in the page  70  to correspond and align with the rings  28  and  30 . A tab  74  can extend from the bottom of the page  70  to index the information on the page. A series of tabs  74  can hang below the bottom of the top page  70  to facilitate easy reference and access to the information on the corresponding page  70  as best seen in FIG.  22 . To fit the four by seven inch backing  18  described above, the holes  72  are a quarter inch in diameter and one-eighth of an inch below the top edge. 
     The mount  20  can be a variety of adapters for channels, slatwalls, poles, peg holes, oval slots and t-slots. The slots may be in the horizontal surface of a shelf. A C-channel  12  is the most common shelf face in retail stores, and a preferred bracket  20  is shown in FIG.  6 . The legs  80  and  82  simply squeeze together so that the edges of the mount  20  attach inside the lip of the C-channel  12 . A foamed tape has been suitable to hold a three-inch aluminum bracket  20  to the back surface  22  of the backing  18 . 
     A variety of other mounts  20  are available depending on the display per FIGS. 7 through 21. It is contemplated that adhesives, such as  96 , can be used with any or all of these mounts  20  to secure the mount  20  to the back surface  22  of the backing  18 . Adhesives  96  may also secure the holder  10  to the display. With other mounts  20 , the holder  10  can clip on a pegboard (FIG. 7) or a slatwall (FIGS.  7 - 9 ). A holder  10  can snap securely to wire fixtures as shown in FIG. 8 and 9. A mount  20  can affix to end of a glass shelf per FIGS. 15 and 16. Of course, the holder  10  can be attached to a hole or slot in the shelf (per FIG. 10,  17  or  20 ) or fixedly mounted on a wall mount by any variety of attachment means. 
     Various mounts  20  are available for C-Channels  12 . FIG. 11 shows a below shelf mount  20 . FIG. 12 shows an alternate embodiment of a below shelf mount  20 . FIG. 13 shows a center shelf mount  20 . FIG. 14 shows an alternate center shelf mount  20 . 
     Mounts  20  can also attach onto the edge of a glass shelf facing outward. FIG. 15 shows a mount  20  for an edge of a glass shelf wherein teeth  90  and  92  attach to the edge of a glass shelf. FIG. 16 shows an alternate mount  20  for a glass shelf with similar teeth  90  and  92 . 
     FIG. 17 shows a flush mount  20  for a shelf with perforations or slots. Flat portion  93  lies on a shelf. Insert  94  attaches through aperture  95  into perforations or slots in the shelf. 
     FIG. 18 shows a multipurpose mount  20  adaptable for clipping over wire or other display parts. Adhesive  96  attaches to back surface  22  of the backing  18 . A release liner  98  can be supplied if this mount  20  is not previously attached to the backing  20 . 
     FIG. 19 shows a mount for a C-channel  12  of on a shelf. The legs  80  and  82  squeeze together so that the edges of the mount  20  attach inside the lip of the C-channel  12 . 
     FIG. 20 shows a bendable mount  20  for various purposes. The adhesive  96  attaches to back surface  22  of the backing  18 . Aperture  95  can be used on a shelf surface or as a hanger. Finally, FIG. 21 shows a mount  20  using an adhesive  96  that can be directly mounted on a display. Other mounts  20  are known in the art and are within the scope of this invention. 
     An optional page protector  99  is shown in FIGS. 22 and 23. A page protector  99  can be inserted between the pages  70  and the face side  16  of a backing  18 . A page protector  99  can conceal the locking device  60  and protect the pages  70  from rubbing against the locking device  60 . A suitable material for a page protector  99  includes any durable sheet material or board. A 0.016 white polyboard is an ideal material. To fit the four by seven inch backing  18  described above, the holes  100  are an eighth inch in diameter and one-quarter of an inch below the top edge, and the page protector  99  is seven inches by three and eleven-thirty-seconds inch. 
     The size, shape, geometry, and configuration of these examples can be readily changed to provide a holder  10  envisioned within the scope of the invention. The size and the shape of the holder  10  are partially dictated by the article or pages that are to be hung from the holder  10 . 
     A preferred method of using holder  10  is to install pages  70  by sliding holes  72  onto the bottom ring halves  34  and  38  and squeezing the halves  32  and  34 ,  36  and  38  together. Then locking device  60  is tightened into the aperture  62  with a tool or key, so that the locking device  60  presses against the leaves  40  and  42 . When pages  70  need to be updated, locking device  60  is loosened, thereby taking pressure off of the leaves  40  and  42 . Contacting halves  32  and  34 ,  36  and  38  are pulled away from each other, opening the rings  28  and  30 . With the rings  28  and  30  open, pages  70  can be removed or installed as appropriate. When updating the pages  70  is complete, the rings  28  and  30  are closed and the locking device  60  is tightened. 
     Although the preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated and described in connection with a particular type of flip chart holder, it can be adapted for use with a variety of retail shelves, pages, and shapes. Other embodiments and equivalent materials and methods are envisioned within the scope of the invention. The examples of designs and shapes are for illustration purposes, and this flip chart holder can be used with a wide variety of configurations. Various features of the invention have been particularly shown and described in connection with the illustrated embodiments of the invention, however, it must be understood that these particular embodiments merely illustrate and that the invention is to be given its fullest interpretation within the terms of the appended claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 6