Abstract:
A mounting support bracket for an advertising windup reel which comprises a base which is to be fixedly secured to an exterior surface. Mounted on the base are a pair of hook members and a depending tab with the outer end of the depending tab having an elongated ridge and groove. A portion of an advertising windup reel is to be connectable between the groove and the hook members to be clamped therebetween thereby fixing in position the advertising windup reel to the mounting support bracket. The depending tab includes a handle which facilitates manual movement of such to deflect the depending tab and permit disengagement of the windup reel housing.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1) Field of the Invention 
     The field of this invention relates to brackets and more particularly to a bracket for an advertising windup reel which is to be mounted on the forward surface of an article supporting shelf that is commonly located within retail stores. 
     2) Description of the Prior Art 
     Typical self service retail stores, such as drug stores, supermarkets, computer software stores, liquor stores and the like, have rows of multiple tier shelves which are used to support products for sale. The product, or the exterior package of the product, is visually displayed on the shelf. Generally, there are many units of a particular product stocked on that shelf. The consumer would normally select a product from the shelf without the assistance of a clerk. Therefore, the shelf also performs a dispensing function. 
     It is common for product manufacturers and distributors to want to include a display advertisement at the shelf location for a particular product. While a product is readily visible on a shelf, the mere presence of the product, because the product is displayed with numerous other products on the shelf, may be insufficient to stimulate consumer interest. Shelf space in a store is a valuable commodity. The amount of shelf space assigned to each product is at the minimum. A given product can become “lost” on a shelf amongst all the other products. Also, the product may be enclosed in a small package so that there is no large “advertising” space or advertising surface to catch the consumer&#39;s eye or the available space on the package may be insufficient to contain all the information that a manufacturer or retailer wishes to depart to a potential purchaser. Additionally, the product may be packaged in a plain wrapper or, in the case of produce, no packaging at all. There also may be involved some kind of specialty promotion with a product that is not included on the package since the promotion may only run for a short period of time. 
     Manufacturers and retailers are becoming aware that shelf advertising can be an exceedingly effective way in which to sell goods. Not only can the advertising motivate a consumer&#39;s purchase, but it can also be informative to the consumer about the product. Shelf advertising is limited as to the available space. The only convenient location for shelf advertising is at the front edge of the shelf which is short in length, usually no more than four to ten inches in length, and only occupies an inch to an inch and one half in height. However, if some form of device could be mounted on the front edge of the shelf and the device constructed in a manner to be expandable to a larger area so that additional information can be printed on the larger area and then made available to the consumer only when the consumer is interested in obtaining that information, then such an advertising device would be most desirable. Also, when the consumer is not utilizing the device, the device assumes a retracted state occupying a minimal amount of space when it is not used. 
     In the past, it has been known to mount a scroll type of device on the front end of the shelf where the scroll can be unwound to display advertising or information about a product, and then when released by the consumer, the device retracts to a small size, at-rest position. Such scrolls are commonly referred to as windup reels. In the past, these windup reels have been fixedly mounted onto the front end of the store shelf. It would be desirable to include some kind of mounting arrangement so that the windup reel could be easily removed from the shelf if such is not needed. Possibly the windup reel could be utilized only for a promotion and once the promotion ends the windup reel then becomes unnecessary. If the windup reel is permanently affixed to the shelf, removal of that windup reel is difficult. 
     Additionally, the scroll within the windup reel may need to be changed such as would be required at the end of a certain promotion of a product. To facilitate this changing, it is generally necessary to remove the windup reel from the shelf, move such to a work area, and then the windup reel disassembled and the scroll removed and replaced. The windup reel then needs to be reinstalled back in position in the front end of the shelf. It would be desirable to utilize some type of device to facilitate quick and easy attachment of the windup reel onto the shelf. 
     Windup reels in conjunction with store shelves have proved to be quite desirable because such occupy a minimal amount of space and protrude only a slight distance forward of the shelf. In the past, one way to include advertising at the front end of the shelf is to mount a free standing sign which extends outward from the shelf. However, such free standing shelves protrude into the aisle area which is used for passage of the consumers with the result that such signs are frequently struck by the consumers and knocked free of the shelf therefore becoming ineffective. Also, the usage of such free standing signs generally obscure the shelves making it somewhat difficult for the consumer to visually find a particular product that a consumer wishes to purchase. Also, such free standing signs have to be quite small in size therefore being very limited to the amount of information or advertising that could be placed thereon. Therefore, the use of a scroll within a windup reel is a far more desirable advertising device than a free standing sign. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The structure of the present invention relates to a mounting support bracket for a scroll type of advertising windup reel which facilitates quick and easy mounting of such onto the front end of an article supporting shelf in a store and also facilitates quick and easy removal of the windup reel from its mounted location. The mounting support bracket comprises a base which is to be fixedly fastened to the horizontal portion of the shelf. The depending tab is integrally secured to the base and is to extend away from the base and be located along the front end of the article supporting shelf. The base also includes a pair of hook members. The windup reel is to be clamped between the hook members and the outer end of the depending tab. The depending tab is to be manually deflectable to as to facilitate engagement and disengagement of the windup reel. 
     The primary objective of the present invention is to construct a mounting support bracket for an advertising windup reel that facilitates quick and easy attachment and detachment of the windup reel relative to the bracket. 
     Another objective of the present invention is to construct a mounting support bracket which can be quickly and easily installed in a fixed position on an article supporting shelf of a retail store. 
     Another objective of the present invention is to construct a mounting support bracket which is simple in construction and can be manufactured at low cost and therefore sold to the ultimate consumer at a low cost. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     For a better understanding of the present invention, reference is to be made to the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the precise arrangement shown in the drawings. 
     FIG. 1 is an exploded isometric view showing the arrangement between the mounting support bracket and the shelf on which it is mounted and the windup reel which is to be supported by the mounting support bracket; 
     FIG. 2 is an isometric view showing the windup reel being mounted in conjunction with the mounting support bracket; and 
     FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line  3 — 3  of FIG. 2 depicting different positions of the mounting support bracket and the windup reel during engagement and disengagement of the windup reel from the mounting support bracket. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring particularly to the drawings, there is shown a planer horizontally located article supporting shelf  10  that has formed therein two rows of a series of holes  12 . The holes  12  are normally all of the same size and generally about one-quarter of an inch in diameter. The shelf  10  has a front edge  14  that is located basically vertical. At the joint between the shelf  10  and the front edge  14  is located an elongated bead  16 . It is to be understood that the shelf  10  will be used to support a quantity of a product for sale and the shelf  10  to be located within retail store with it understood within the store there would be a substantial number of shelves  10 . 
     There is also shown in the drawings a windup reel  20  with such a windup reel being disclosed within U.S. Pat. No. 6,038,800 issued to the present inventor. The windup reel  20  includes a windup reel housing  22  which is basically cylindrical in configuration and, in essence, comprises a tube that has an internal chamber  24 . Rotationally mounted within the internal chamber  24  is a roller  26 . One end of a scroll  28  is fixedly mounted to the roller  26 . The scroll  28  comprises flexible sheet material and generally would be constructed of plastic. The outer end of the scroll  28  protrudes exteriorly of the windup reel housing  22  through a longitudinal opening  30 . The outer end of the scroll  28  is attached to a handle  32 . The handle  32  is to be grasped by a user and pulled in an outward direction which will cause the scroll  28  to unwind and protrude substantially its entire length exteriorly of the windup reel housing  22 . This will provide the opportunity for the user to read and otherwise observe the material that is inscribed on the scroll  28 . When the user releases the handle  32 , the scroll  28  will automatically retract to be completely confined within the internal chamber  24 . 
     Mounted on the windup reel housing  22  is a plate  34 . The plate  34  is mounted on the housing  22  at a position substantially diametrically opposite the longitudinal opening  30 . There is also a plate  35  mounted on the housing  22  diametrically opposite plate  34 . Plate  35  is for the purpose of signage so the potential purchaser will be informed of the name of the product to which the windup reel housing  22  applies. Plate  34  is for mounting of the windup reel  20  by using an adhesive pad  31  which is covered by a protective cover sheet  33  which is to be removed to expose the adhesive pad  31 . 
     The mounting support bracket  36  of this invention includes a base in the form of a planar section  38 . Formed within the planar section  38  are two rows of holes  40 . The holes  40  are all of the same size and are generally about the same size as the holes  12 . Each row of the holes  40  is three in number with one row of the holes  40  being located directly adjacent the left edge of the planar section  38  with the other row of the holes  40  being located directly adjacent the right edge of the planar section  38 . One hole  40  of each row is to be aligned with a respective hole  12 . If the holes  40  are used that are located closest to the back edge  42  of the planar section  38 , then the depending tab  44  will be located in a furthest spaced relationship from the front edge  14 . If the pair of holes  40  that are located closest to the depending tab  44  are aligned with their respective pair of holes  12 , then the depending tab  44  will be located closest to the front edge  14 . The selection of which pair of holes  40  are to be used is strictly according to the desires of the user. 
     Once the desired pair of holes  40  are selected, a user utilizes a fastener  46  which is to be press fitted within each of the holes  40  that are being used. The fastener  46  is to contract when being inserted through the selected hole  40  and then through the selected hole  12  and when it is completely inserted, the body of the fastener  46 , which is composed of four in number of legs  48 , then expand capturing the portion of the shelf  10  and the planar section  38  surrounding the holes  12  and  40  within an annular groove  50  of each of the fasteners  46 . Therefor the planar section  38  is now fixedly mounted to the shelf  10 . 
     The depending tab  44  is integrally connected to the planar section  38 . Depending tab  44  extends transversely from planar section  38  to alongside front edge  14  of shelf  10 . Integrally connected to the planar section  38  and located directly adjacent the left edge of the depending tab  44  is a hook member  54 . A tab  51  extends parallel to depending tab  44  but is not movable like depending tab  44 . Tab  51  is about one-half the length of depending tab  44 . The tab  51  is to provide back support for the plate  34  when captured by the hook member  54 . A similar hook member  52  is integrally connected to the planar section  38  and is located just off the right edge of the depending tab  44 . Associated with hook member  52  is a tab  53  which is basically similar to tab  51  and works with hook member  52  in the same manner. The outer end of the depending tab  44  includes a right angled ledge  55 . The outer end of the right angled ledge  55  is integrally connected to handle  56  which is also mounted at a right angle position relative to the ledge  55 . Integrally mounted on the right angled ledge  55  is an elongated ridge  58 . Located directly adjacent the ridge  58  and also directly adjacent the handle  56  is an elongated groove  60 . 
     The installation procedure for the windup reel  20  to the mounting support bracket  36  is as follows: The upper edge of the plate  34  is located underneath the hook members  52  and  54 . This locating of the plate  34  underneath the hook members  52  and  54  is shown in the dotted line position  62  of FIG.  3 . The user then pivots the windup reel  20  so that the lower edge of the plate  34  comes in contact with the right angled ledge  55  and causes the depending flange  44  to pivot slightly toward the front edge  14  until the lower edge of the plate  34  matingly engages with the elongated groove  60  and abuts against the elongated ridge  58 . The windup reel  20  is now fixedly mounted in conjunction with the bracket  36  as is shown in solid lines in FIG. 3, and as is also shown in FIG.  2 . The plate  34  will now be located in groove  60  and held there by ridge  58 . Prior to this installation of the windup reel  20 , the cover sheet  33  is removed and discarded exposing adhesive pad  31 . This pad  31  will adhesively bond onto the depending tab  44  to provide for the permanent securement. This will be the normal usage for the windup reel  20  as it is now mounted just forward and spaced from the front edge  14  of the shelf  10 . 
     Let it now be assumed that the user wishes to disengage the windup reel  20  from the mounting bracket  36 . The user applies an inward pushing force against the handle  56  in direction of arrow  65  which causes the depending tab  44  to pivot to the dotted line position  64  shown in FIG. 3 which will actually locate the ribs  43  and  45  against the shelf  14 . The ribs  43  and  45  function to limit the amount of inward movement of the depending tab  44 . When in this position, the lower edge of the plate  34  will be dislodged from the elongated groove  60  and the handle  32  will be in the dotted line position  66  shown in FIG.  3 . The user can then grasp the windup reel  20  and pivot such counterclockwise as shown in FIG. 3, breaking the adhesive securement of pad  31 , which will remove the lower edge of the plate  34  from the elongated groove  60 , and then by moving in a slight downward direction, the upper edge of the plate  34  can be dislodged from the hook members  52  and  54 . The windup reel  20  is now separated from the bracket  36  permitting such to be moved to a separate location for changing of the scroll  28 . The depending tab  44  will automatically move in the direction of arrow  67  back to the solid line position shown in FIG.  3 . 
     The user also has the option of moving the windup reel  20  away from the front edge  14  while still attached to the bracket  36 . The purpose of this is to make it easier to read the scroll  28  especially if a tall person is using the windup reel  20 . Also, by being able to pivot the scroll away from the front edge  14 , store personnel can easily access price and/or price code labels that are commonly placed on the front edge. This movement is permitted by the inclusion of an elongated groove  39  totally across the planar section  38  and formed within the surface of the planar section  38  that is in contact with the shelf  10 . This groove  39  permits the depending tab  44  to be pivoted relative to the planar section  38 . The groove  39  is commonly known as a “living hinge.” 
     The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the essential attributes thereof. Reference should be made to the appending claims rather than the foregoing specification as indicating the scope of the invention.