Patent ID: 8627588

Claim:
A combination Electronic Shelf Label (ESL) and ESL holder with a locking mechanism for releasably securing the ESL to the ESL holder, comprising: at least one gripping means provided on the ESL for cooperative engagement with the ESL holder, wherein the gripping means comprises a hook-like shape suitable for securely grasping a receiving means; a locking element integral with a movable locking plate in the ESL for cooperative engagement with the ESL holder; at least one receiving means provided on the ESL holder for receiving the gripping means and the locking element in cooperative engagement; a spring loaded element provided on the movable locking plate in the ESL, wherein the locking element and the gripping means are positioned such that the locking element and the gripping means are insertable in the receiving means on the ESL holder, wherein the locking element rests on an edge of the receiving means in the ESL holder when inserted, wherein the gripping means is displaceable into a hooked position, and such displacement causes the movable locking plate to move inside the ESL, wherein the spring loaded element on the movable locking plate secures the locking element in a locked position by grasping a latch and entering a latched position so as to prevent removal of the ESL from the ESL holder until the spring loaded element on the movable locking plate is forced against a spring force to leave the latched position, and wherein, when the movable locking plate is displaced from its latched position, the movable locking plate is permitted move back to an unlocked position, and this movement brings the locking element to an unlocked position when the gripping means is forced out of its hooked position, thus enabling removal of the ESL from the ESL holder.