Patent Description:
In stores, for example supermarkets etc, electronic shelf labels, also referred to as ESLs, are used for displaying information about the different products offered in the store. The information displayed could be the name and type of product, information regarding the product as well as the price for each of the products. Furthermore, cameras are more frequently used for example to monitor the amount of the goods remaning on the shelves and to ensure that the different products are in the intended order on the shelves.

The electronic shelf labels and / or cameras are communicating with a central control unit that makes it possible to frequently update, and change the information displayed on the labels which saves a considerable amount of time for the persons working in the store, especially if the number of different products sold in the store is high. As an example, a supermarket offers between <NUM> and <NUM> different products.

The most common type of electronic shelf labels are small and arranged side by side along the forward edge of shelves or desks adjacent to the product each ESL is intended to market but there is an increasing demand for larger displays in order to increase the size of the text and/or the amount of information that could be displayed, and cameras comprising the required components are ofte larger than conventional electronic shelf labels. The larger units, i.e. electronic shelf labels and cameras, however requires new flexible support arrangements and there is consequently a need for an improved support arrangment for larger units, i.e. electronic shelf labels and cameras. Document <CIT> is considered the closest prior art and discloses all the features of the preamble of claim <NUM>.

The present invention, defined in the appended claims, provides a support arrangement for a unit used within a retail environment that to at least some extent fulfils the needs defined above. The claimed support arrangement for a unit used within a retail environment comprises:.

The claimed support arrangement fulfils the needs defined above by providing a new type of support that in combination with the design of the unit ensures a reliable securing of the unit still making it easy to remove the unit when needed. Furthermore, the support arrangement is arranged behind the unit and give the unit the desired appearance with the support arrangement hidden behind. The position behind the unit is also favourable since the release of the unit requires knowledge about the arrangement which prevents unintentional removal by un-authorized persons.

In one embodiment of the support arrangement, the at least three recesses and corresponding attachment protrusions are arranged in a pattern that makes it possible to secure the unit to the support device in both a first and a second position, said first and second position are located <NUM>° from each other. This embodiment is favorable since many units have a rectangular display, or field of view, and this embodiment of the arrangement makes it possible to attach the unit either in a position where the display or field of view extends horizontally or vertically. Furthermore, this embodiment provides a reliable and stable support since the attachment protrusions and recesses could be arranged in a two-dimensional pattern.

In one embodiment of the support arrangement, the support body has a rectangular or circular shape with smaller extension than the electronic shelf label in the plane of the rear side. This embodiment of the support body ensures that the support device is hidden behind the unit.

In one embodiment of the support arrangement, the number of recesses and attachment protrusions are at least four and arranged in the pattern of a square. This embodiment provides a flexible and stable support for the unit since the attachment protrusions and recesses are spread over a larger area.

The releasable locking device comprises a male element, a female element and a release element arranged to release the connection between the male and female element to release the electronic shelf label from the support device. The male / female configuration provides the desired reliable securing of the unit to the support device and the release element makes it possible to the release the unit when desired.

The male element and female element are arranged between the rear side of the unit and the flat support body, and the release element comprises an actuator extending substantially parallel to the flat support body outside the support body in the plane of the support body. In this embodiment of the arrangement, the different parts of the arrangement are protected between the support device and the unit.

In one embodiment of the support arrangement, the female element of the coupling device is a recess formed in the rear side of the electronic shelf label and the male part is a resilient protrusion arranged in the support body.

In one embodiment of the support arrangement, the release element is movable between a first position in which the electronic shelf label is attached to the support device and a second position in which the electronic shelf label is released from the support device.

In one embodiment of the support arrangement, the release element in the second position is arranged to force the resilient male element into a non-engagement position with the female element.

In one embodiment of the support arrangement, the release element is resiliently arranged in the support device such that it is returned to the first position if force is acting on the release element.

In one embodiment of the support arrangement, the unit is an electronic shelf label or a camera.

The different described embodiments of the invention could of course be combined in different ways without departing from the scope of the invention that will be described more in detail in the detailed description.

One embodiment of the support arrangement according to the invention is illustrated in the appended figures.

In <FIG> an exploded perspective view of the different elements of the support arrangement are illustrated in order to more clarly illustrate the technic aspects of the support arrangement.

In <FIG> a unit in embodied as an electronic shelf label <NUM>, also referred to as ESL, is illustrated. The ESL comprises a casing <NUM> and a display area <NUM> that is intended to display the desired information such as for example price, ingredients, origin etc. The casing is substantially rectangular with an upper <NUM> and lower side <NUM> arranged parallel to each other, two side surfaces <NUM>, and a forward <NUM> and rear side <NUM>. In <FIG> the rear part of the casing <NUM> is illustrated exploded from the rest of the casing, but this is only to be able to illustrate essential features of the rear side more clearly. The forward side <NUM> is substantially flat and comprises the display area <NUM>. The casing is for example made of a plastic material that provides the desired structural strength as well as the desired appearance of the ESL <NUM>. In the forward side of the ESL, means <NUM> for communication between the ESL and a central control system is arranged. In the illustrated ESL, this communication involves means for infra-red optical communication with an in the store centrally arranged control unit. Other alternatives for communication between the ESL and the central control system are however possible and the means for communication arranged in the ESL are then modified or adapted to the desired system for communication. In a further embodiment of an ESL, the means for communication could be arranged in the side surfaces or integrated within the casing as long as the desired contact between the ESL and the central control unit is achieved. If the support arrangement is used for a camera, all of these features are arranged within the camera housing to ensure the desired communication between the camera and the central control system.

The rear side of the ESL casing is rectangular and substantially flat. In the central area of the rear side, four holes <NUM> are formed. The holes could also be embodied as recesses formed in the rear side. The holes <NUM> are arranged in a predetermined pattern, i.e. in the illustrated embodiment the holes form the pattern of a square with the holes in the corners of the square. Different number of holes or recesses as well as patterns could be used like for example furhter holes arranged in a circle etc. The holes <NUM> are substantially circular and with the same radius. The inside surface of the rear part of the casing is formed such that the area surrounding each hole, or recesse, is shaped such that a shoulder <NUM> extending around the hole, or recesse, is formed. Th shoulder is illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG> and is intended to co-operate with the support device to attache the ESL to the support device.

The shoulder <NUM> either extend around the entire hole <NUM>, or recess, as illustrated in the figures, alternatively around a section of the hole, or recess. If the shoulder extend around a section of the hole, or recess, this section should be on the side of the opening that is facing upwards when the ESL is fitted in the intended position to the support device. The shoulder preferably also extend along a section between <NUM>° to <NUM>° around the hole, or recess, such that the ESL could be turned <NUM> and fitted in either a vertical or horzontal direction.

The support device <NUM> comprises a substantially flat support body <NUM> intended to be secured to a wall, a shelf or a support structure arranged at the desired location of the ESL in the store. The support body, illustrated in detail in <FIG>, comprises a number of fastening openings <NUM> to make it possible to secure the support device by screws or snap-fittings to the wall, shelf or support structure. The support device could also be fastened by adhesive to eliminate any damage to the wall, shelf or support structure. The support device furthermore comprises a corresponding number of attachment protrusions <NUM> as the number of recesses in the rear side of the ESL, i.e. in the illustrated embodiment four attachment protrusions <NUM>. The attachment protrusions extend substantially transverse from the support body and are arranged in a corresponding pattern on the support body as the holes <NUM>, or recesses, in the rear side of the ESL, i.e. in a square. The attachment protrusions have a shape and dimensions corresponding to the shape and dimensions of the holes, or recesses, in the rear side of the ESL to make it possible to fit the attachment protrusions in the holes, or recesses.

In the illustrated embodiment of the support arrangement, the holes <NUM> in the rear side of the ESL <NUM> have a substantially circular shape and the attachment protrusions <NUM> a corresponding circular cross-section. The attachment protrusions extend substantially straight from the support body and has a constant radius before each protrusion is ended by a rounded outer end. The extension of the attachment protrusions must correspond to the space inside the holes, or recesses, to ensure that the attachment protrusions fit in the space. Each attachment protrusion <NUM> comprises a cut- out portion formed in the side of the attachment protrusion that is intended to face upwards when the support device <NUM> is fastened in the intended position on the wall, shelf or support structure such that a support surface is formed in the area of the cut-out portion. The support surface could be embodied in different ways and in the illustrated embodiment each attachment protrusion comprises a first surface <NUM> arranged substantially transverse to the plane of the support body and a second surface <NUM> extending from the outer end of the first surface substantially parallel to the plane of the support body upwards when the support device is arranged in the intended position. The second surface <NUM> of the support surface is intended to bear against the shoulder <NUM> extending around the hole <NUM>, or recess, in the rear side of the ESL <NUM> to maintain the electronic shelf label <NUM> attached to the support device <NUM>. In the illustrated embodiment the first surface <NUM> will be in contact with the peripheral surface surrounding the hole <NUM> and the second surface <NUM> will bear against the shoulder to maintain the ESL attached to the support device.

The support arrangement according to the invention furthermore comprises a releasable locking device <NUM> arranged to maintain the support surfaces of the support device in contact with the shoulders <NUM> surrounding the holes <NUM>, or recesses. The locking device <NUM> has a male / female configuration and in the illustrated embodiment of the support arrangement the female part <NUM> is arranged in the rear side of the ESL <NUM> and the male part <NUM> in the support device <NUM>.

In the illustrated embodiment the female part is a substantially circular recess <NUM> arranged in the center of the square formed by the holes in the rear side of the ESL, illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>. The male part <NUM> is a resilient protrusion extending from the support body. The resilient protrusion is shaped like an elongated member <NUM> extending from the support body <NUM> towards the ESL <NUM>. The elongated member <NUM> has a nob <NUM> in the outer end with a dimension corresponding to the radius of the circular recess <NUM> such that the nob in the outer end fit within the recess and locks the ESL to the support device. The resilient protrusion is forced towards the rear side of the ESL <NUM> and as soon as the ESL is in the correct position in relation to the support device the nob <NUM> snaps into the recess to lock the ESL to the support device.

The locking device <NUM> is released by a release element <NUM> arranged to release the connection between the male <NUM> and female <NUM> element, i.e. the circular recess <NUM> and the nob <NUM> in the outer end of the elongated member <NUM>. The release element <NUM> comprises an actuator <NUM> extending substantially parallel to the flat support body <NUM> from the elongated member <NUM> outside the periphery of the support body <NUM> in the plane of the support body.

The elongated actuator <NUM> has a forward end <NUM> arranged adjacent to the male element <NUM> and a second end arranged in the opposite end of the actuator. The length of the actuator is selected such that the second end is hidden behind the ESL <NUM> but accessible via the space formed behind the ESL between the ESL and the wall, shelf or support structure. The actuator <NUM> is movable along the axis defined by the extension of the elongated actuator between a first position in which the electronic shelf label is attached to the support device and a second position in which the electronic shelf label is released from the support device. The release element is movably attached to the support body <NUM> that have guiding rails <NUM> arranged on both sides of the elongated actuator to maintain and guide the actuator during movement between the first and second position. The release element <NUM> furthermore comprises two springs <NUM> arranged to return the elongated actuator <NUM> to the first position when no force is acting on the second end of the actuator forcing it to the second position to ensure that the ESL is locked to the support device until there is a desire to remove it.

The different positions of the ESL <NUM>, the support device <NUM> and the release element <NUM> are illustrated in <FIG> to more clearly illustrate the function of the arrangement. In the first position, the release element is located separated from the resilient member <NUM> and the nob is forced into the circular recess <NUM>. When the actuator <NUM> is moved towards the second position, the forward end <NUM> of the actuator <NUM> is sliding towards the elongated member <NUM> and forces the resilient elongated member <NUM> towards the support body and away from the ESL such that the nob is removed from the circular recess <NUM>. Once the nob is fully removed from the circular recess the ESL <NUM> is moved slightly upwards to disconnect the second surface of the attachment protrusion from the shoulder <NUM> surrounding the holes <NUM> in the rear side of the ESL <NUM> and the ESL <NUM> is released from the support device <NUM>.

Claim 1:
Support arrangement for a unit (<NUM>) used within a retail environment, said arrangement comprising:
a unit (<NUM>) comprising a casing (<NUM>) with a substantially flat rear side (<NUM>), at least three recesses (<NUM>) arranged in a predetermined pattern are formed in the rear side (<NUM>) of the unit (<NUM>), said recesses (<NUM>) are shaped such that a shoulder (<NUM>) extending around at least a section of the recess (<NUM>) in the rear side is formed;
a support device (<NUM>) comprising a substantially flat support body (<NUM>) intended to be secured to a wall, a shelf or a support structure, said support device (<NUM>) comprises a corresponding number of attachment protrusions (<NUM>) as the number of recesses (<NUM>), said attachment protrusions (<NUM>) have shape and dimension corresponding to shape and dimension of the recesses (<NUM>) and each comprising a support surface (<NUM>) intended to bear against the shoulder (<NUM>) of the recesses (<NUM>) to maintain the unit (<NUM>) attached to the support device (<NUM>); and
a releasable locking device (<NUM>) arranged to maintain the support surfaces (<NUM>) in contact with the shoulders (<NUM>) in the recesses (<NUM>), said locking device (<NUM>) has a male / female configuration and comprises a male element (<NUM>), a female (<NUM>) element and a release element (<NUM>) arranged to release the connection between the male (<NUM>) and female (<NUM>) element to release the unit (<NUM>) from the support device (<NUM>), characterized in that
the male element (<NUM>) and female element (<NUM>) are arranged between the rear side (<NUM>) of the unit (<NUM>) and the flat support body (<NUM>), and the release element (<NUM>) comprises an actuator (<NUM>) extending substantially parallel to the flat support body (<NUM>) outside the support body (<NUM>) in the plane of the support body (<NUM>).